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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of temptation
Agreed, this might be a tough call, and certainly there could be temptation to immediately can the two Lakers employees who most epitomize the incestuous decisions that have dragged the once-shining championship organization into dull mediocrity.
—
Bill Plaschke, Los Angeles Times, 29 June 2025
Thousands of people offered suggestions, such as only grocery shopping online to avoid in-store temptation, downsizing, and getting a second job outside a normal nine-to-five.
—Meredith Wilshere, People.com, 29 June 2025
Staging-wise, this is a tour that resists the modern superstar temptation to make each song into its own separate production number, a la Taylor Swift, Beyonce, Halsey, et al.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 27 June 2025
To be sure, motivating allies in Asia to contribute more to their own defense will be a persistent challenge, but the transactional nature of the Trump administration may reduce allies’ temptation to cheap-ride.
—Jennifer Lind, Foreign Affairs, 24 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for temptation
Bill Plaschke, Los Angeles Times, 29 June 2025
Thousands of people offered suggestions, such as only grocery shopping online to avoid in-store temptation, downsizing, and getting a second job outside a normal nine-to-five.
—Meredith Wilshere, People.com, 29 June 2025
Staging-wise, this is a tour that resists the modern superstar temptation to make each song into its own separate production number, a la Taylor Swift, Beyonce, Halsey, et al.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 27 June 2025
To be sure, motivating allies in Asia to contribute more to their own defense will be a persistent challenge, but the transactional nature of the Trump administration may reduce allies’ temptation to cheap-ride.
—Jennifer Lind, Foreign Affairs, 24 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for temptation
Recent Examples of Synonyms for temptation
Noun
-
Like so many of the film’s details, this seemingly innocent game indicates that the young women realize there’s an element of seduction at play, with some more aware than others of the qualities (besides singing talent) that Mácha is looking for.—
Peter Debruge,
Variety,
7 July 2025
-
The camera, a fly, roves, ending up in corners, lodging itself amid scenes of card-playing, seductions, wisecracking, and listlessness.—
Doreen St. Félix,
New Yorker,
14 June 2025
Noun
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Hefty incentives packages from the city and the state were also a strong lure.—
Kate Marijolovic,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
2 July 2025
-
In Los Angeles, the boom translated to an influx of new workers who had moved west, seduced by the lure of movies as much as the location’s oil fields and automobile manufacturers, and the city saw its population double between 1920 and 1925.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
24 June 2025
Noun
-
Companies can offer discounts or incentives to customers to try to entice them to buy trips or vacations.—
Corina Vanek,
AZCentral.com,
7 July 2025
-
The bill eliminates critical renewable energy incentives, redirects funding toward fossil fuels and nuclear power, and dismantles key progressive priorities of the Biden administration.—
Ed Gaskin,
Boston Herald,
7 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Temptation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/temptation. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.
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