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
After recruiting Kevin Lomax (Keanu Reeves), a highly successful and morally flexible Florida lawyer with a 100 percent success rate, Milton offers him temptation after temptation — then sits back and lets the process play out, only rarely getting his hands dirty himself.
—
Keith Phipps, Vulture, 31 Oct. 2025
Measure draw lengths before the shopping begins, and help your protégé resist the temptation to pull too much draw weight.
—The Editors, Outdoor Life, 30 Oct. 2025
To avoid temptation of a sweet treat, eat a meal or snack before trick-or-treating, the agency says.
—Greta Cross, USA Today, 29 Oct. 2025
For a category like hanging clothes, refuse the temptation to buy more hangers when all of your existing ones are occupied.
—Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for temptation
Keith Phipps, Vulture, 31 Oct. 2025
Measure draw lengths before the shopping begins, and help your protégé resist the temptation to pull too much draw weight.
—The Editors, Outdoor Life, 30 Oct. 2025
To avoid temptation of a sweet treat, eat a meal or snack before trick-or-treating, the agency says.
—Greta Cross, USA Today, 29 Oct. 2025
For a category like hanging clothes, refuse the temptation to buy more hangers when all of your existing ones are occupied.
—Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for temptation
Recent Examples of Synonyms for temptation
Noun
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You’re often pulled toward deep, bold flavors, and brown butter with toffee hits that sweet spot between comfort and seduction, mirroring your love language.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
30 Oct. 2025
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Taking inspiration from the Greek enchantress Circe, the fragrance embodies her mythical characteristics of seduction and power, alongside rebellion and creation.—
Fairchild Studio,
Footwear News,
23 Oct. 2025
Noun
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One beneficiary may be the Catalan-language itself, also satisfying a yearning for authenticity, which is proving a major lure of both films and series.—
John Hopewell,
Variety,
7 Nov. 2025
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The arrangement empowers the co-investors to pick and choose their own individual deals, the great lure of directs in general.—
Shawn Tully,
Fortune,
1 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Best practices range from transparent pricing backed by data to trust-building expertise, financial incentives, and simple seller experiences for resale.—
Angela Velasquez,
Sourcing Journal,
4 Nov. 2025
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Pachón cited box office concentration and a waning appetite for exploration, compounded by insufficient incentives for theaters.—
Emiliano De Pablos,
Variety,
4 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Temptation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/temptation. Accessed 11 Nov. 2025.
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