temptation

noun

temp·​ta·​tion tem(p)-ˈtā-shən 

1

: the act of tempting or the state of being tempted especially to evil : enticement

2

: something tempting : a cause or occasion of enticement

Synonyms

• allurement
• enticement
• lure
• seduction

Examples of temptation in a Sentence

Money is always a temptation.

The dessert menu has a lot of delicious temptations.

the temptations of the city

Recent Examples on the Web

Resist the temptation to crowd too many vegetable plants into each container; often, only one per pot is best. —Miri Talabac, Baltimore Sun, 24 Apr. 2025

What’s important is establishing the habit of setting aside money and resisting the temptation to use it for anything other than true emergencies. —True Tamplin, Forbes.com, 23 Apr. 2025

But resisting the temptation to share on social media can be hard, especially when your day is filled with cool experiences. —Chloe Arrojado, AFAR Media, 23 Apr. 2025

For the sake of our students — today and long into the future — policymakers must resist that temptation. —Bruce Rauner, The Orlando Sentinel, 22 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English temptacioun "testing, enticement to sin," borrowed from Anglo-French tentacion, borrowed from Late Latin temptātiōn-, temptātiō "enticement to sin," going back to Latin, "attempt, attack," from temptāre "to feel, test, attempt, make an assault on, attack" + -tiōn-, -tiō, suffix of verbal action — more at tempt

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for temptation

• ablation
• bination
• carnation
• cassation
• castration
• causation
• centration
• cessation
• cetacean
• chelation
• citation
• collation

Kids Definition

temptation

noun

temp·​ta·​tion tem(p)-ˈtā-shən 

1

: the act of tempting : the state of being tempted especially to evil

2

: something tempting