Definition of TEMPTED

Choose the Right Synonym for tempt

lure, entice, inveigle, decoy, tempt, seduce mean to lead astray from one's true course. lure implies a drawing into danger, evil, or difficulty through attracting and deceiving. lured naive investors with get-rich-quick schemes entice suggests drawing by artful or adroit means. advertising designed to entice new customers inveigle implies enticing by cajoling or flattering. fund-raisers inveigling wealthy alumni decoy implies a luring into entrapment by artifice. attempting to decoy the enemy into an ambush tempt implies the presenting of an attraction so strong that it overcomes the restraints of conscience or better judgment. tempted by the offer of money seduce implies a leading astray by persuasion or false promises. seduced by assurances of assistance

Examples of tempt in a Sentence

that chocolate dessert sure tempts me, but I should stick with my diet refusing to lay in enough food for the long winter tempts the dangers of starvation

Recent Examples on the Web

Meanwhile, Britons tempted to say good riddance to the single market’s frustrations should reflect on how much losing a seat at the table could cost them. — The Economist, "A singular opportunity," 12 Sep. 2019 The answers can single out people who might be more tempted to bring in contraband or make a bad decision like mistreating an inmate while in a stressful situation. — USA TODAY, "Animation behind bars, Elliott the elk, SkyStar: News from around our 50 states," 10 Sep. 2019 White Claw isn't the only hard seltzer on the market, with competitors Truly Hard Seltzer and Bon & Viv Spiked Seltzer tempting consumers. — Danielle Garrand, CBS News, "There is a nationwide shortage of White Claw hard seltzer," 7 Sep. 2019 Airbnb renters leave feedback constantly which is crucial in tempting future renters. — Jon Caldara, The Denver Post, "Caldara: Denver’s war against people and their houseguests, via AirBNB," 6 Sep. 2019 The outbreak of war in 1939 sent Rhodes scholars back to the U.S. White enrolled at Yale Law School that fall, but in 1940 Lions owner Fred Mandel Jr. tempted him back to the NFL with a two-year contract. — The Si Staff, SI.com, "100 Figures Who Shaped the NFL’s First Century," 28 Aug. 2019 No doubt, some Patriots fans wondering whether Brown deserves their support were tempted by his talents in those moments. — BostonGlobe.com, "Most read on BostonGlobe.com," 15 Sep. 2019 Rucker continues to cook with wine, but isn’t tempted by it. — Lindsay Schnell, USA TODAY, "Sober and still cool: Celebrity chefs buck addiction to lead wellness movement," 11 Sep. 2019 Those willing to make a more substantial investment might be tempted by a four-week bootcamp promising to teach the best route to an offer letter, or by Problem-Solving for the CS Technical Interview, a course that’s given at Stanford University. — Michelle Cheng, Quartz at Work, "An Airbnb host is offering mock Amazon job interviews for $5,300," 30 Aug. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'tempt.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

History and Etymology for tempt

Middle English tempten "to test, incite to sin, attempt," borrowed from Anglo-French tempter, temter, tenter, going back to Latin temptāre, tentāre "to feel, test, examine, attempt, make an assault on, attack" (Late Latin, "to incite to sin"), perhaps frequentative derivative from an Indo-European verbal base *temp- "stretch, extend" (hence, "grope for, feel") — more at tempo

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