1
as in seduction
the pressure to give in to a desire for easy or immediate pleasure
he felt the temptation to go sailing, but did his chores instead
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in lure
something that persuades one to perform an action for pleasure or gain
money, power, and other overwhelming temptations can seduce a person to a life of crime
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of temptation
Here, Köhler avoids the temptation to make caricatures out of either the fiery journalists or the defensive cast and crew.
—
Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 28 Sep. 2025
But previous presidents have resisted the temptation to exploit them, and the law has served as a powerful norm notwithstanding its weaknesses.
—Elizabeth Goitein, Time, 27 Sep. 2025
There is a temptation to call the $14 million a personal record, the 56-game hitting streak of fraud.
—Joe Soucheray, Twin Cities, 27 Sep. 2025
New research into Rembrandt van Rijn’s 1642 masterpiece suggests that this barking dog was inspired by the title page of a widely available book on the temptations of the flesh, illustrated by the Dutch artist, poet and publisher Adriaen van de Venne.
—Senay Boztas, CNN Money, 25 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for temptation
Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 28 Sep. 2025
But previous presidents have resisted the temptation to exploit them, and the law has served as a powerful norm notwithstanding its weaknesses.
—Elizabeth Goitein, Time, 27 Sep. 2025
There is a temptation to call the $14 million a personal record, the 56-game hitting streak of fraud.
—Joe Soucheray, Twin Cities, 27 Sep. 2025
New research into Rembrandt van Rijn’s 1642 masterpiece suggests that this barking dog was inspired by the title page of a widely available book on the temptations of the flesh, illustrated by the Dutch artist, poet and publisher Adriaen van de Venne.
—Senay Boztas, CNN Money, 25 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for temptation
Recent Examples of Synonyms for temptation
Noun
-
There is agency at work in this seduction—not his, not mine, but theirs.—
Gary Greenberg,
New Yorker,
27 Sep. 2025
-
The whole scene is a masterclass in femme seduction, the kind that could have only been directed by a lesbian.—
James Factora,
Them.,
26 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Beyond the lure, a nearly invisible harp net hung in the middle of a forest opening, where a single golden-haired creature was caught.—
Lauren Liebhaber,
Miami Herald,
25 Sep. 2025
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Colorful reef and drift dives are the lure in the waters around Marsa Alam, where more than 60 spectacular dive sites are a siren call to (wet) suit up.—
Terry Ward,
AFAR Media,
11 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Tesla had a first-mover advantage in China in 2013, leveraging the government’s support of EVs with subsidies and incentives and its production base and opening a gigafactory in Shanghai in 2019.—
Rebecca A. Fannin,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Oct. 2025
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Livermore and Alameda officials unsuccessfully offered their own tax incentive packages.—
Kyle Martin,
Mercury News,
30 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Temptation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/temptation. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.
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