1
as in seductions
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 lures
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 temptations
Those temptations offer an easy rise that can distract pleasure-seekers from engaging in more spiritually fulfilling long-term pursuits.
—
Ian Bogost, The Atlantic, 16 June 2026
There was a joke going around before the NBA Finals from X user Brooks Otterlake about how Wembanyama could succumb to the temptations of New York and spend his time distracted by the Rose Reading Room at the public library or a conference on participatory futures at The New School.
—Jared Weiss, New York Times, 10 June 2026
Recommitting to your fitness goals before the temptations of summer arrive in full force.
—Amina Ayoud, Footwear News, 28 May 2026
Resist temptations to spend money (except for food and gas).
—Georgia Nicols, Denver Post, 27 May 2026
In this one, the book advance probably immunizes Vance from charges and temptations of Washington’s ubiquitous graft.
—Ben Smith, semafor.com, 28 Apr. 2026
She’s simply locked in to playing Bethany as another confused millennial trying to figure it all out and failing to stay away from moth-to-flame temptations.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 15 Apr. 2026
In the modern food environment, many of us succumb to these temptations at the cost of our health.
—David S. Ludwig, STAT, 9 Apr. 2026
Never discount the criminal temptations of the price per pound of metal (and shame on the metal salvage companies that accept for scrap something that is very obviously historic, and stolen).
—Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 2 Apr. 2026
Ian Bogost, The Atlantic, 16 June 2026
There was a joke going around before the NBA Finals from X user Brooks Otterlake about how Wembanyama could succumb to the temptations of New York and spend his time distracted by the Rose Reading Room at the public library or a conference on participatory futures at The New School.
—Jared Weiss, New York Times, 10 June 2026
Recommitting to your fitness goals before the temptations of summer arrive in full force.
—Amina Ayoud, Footwear News, 28 May 2026
Resist temptations to spend money (except for food and gas).
—Georgia Nicols, Denver Post, 27 May 2026
In this one, the book advance probably immunizes Vance from charges and temptations of Washington’s ubiquitous graft.
—Ben Smith, semafor.com, 28 Apr. 2026
She’s simply locked in to playing Bethany as another confused millennial trying to figure it all out and failing to stay away from moth-to-flame temptations.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 15 Apr. 2026
In the modern food environment, many of us succumb to these temptations at the cost of our health.
—David S. Ludwig, STAT, 9 Apr. 2026
Never discount the criminal temptations of the price per pound of metal (and shame on the metal salvage companies that accept for scrap something that is very obviously historic, and stolen).
—Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 2 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for temptations
Noun
-
So, who was it from our universe that would be most susceptible to that kind of messaging, or who would find the seductions of the power offered by that the most compelling?—
Chris O'Falt,
IndieWire,
3 Mar. 2026
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But the seductions of ChatGPT are hard to resist, and Marsicano noted that the college has seen an increase in code violations due to AI.—
Ian Bogost,
The Atlantic,
29 Jan. 2026
Noun
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And given that such systems are physically possible, powerful economic and strategic incentives exist for technologists and entrepreneurs to build them.—
Rob Toews,
Forbes.com,
22 June 2026
-
The restrictions apply to existing single-family homes, not new construction, a carveout that preserves incentives for financial firms to invest in new housing construction, the staffer noted.—
Mary Cunningham,
CBS News,
22 June 2026
Noun
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Other types of attractions include shows, character meet-and-greets, climbing structures and wet and dry play areas.—
Eve Chen,
USA Today,
19 June 2026
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Nowhere is that more visible than Krome Avenue, a road once known more for its nearby prisons than its family-friendly farm attractions.—
Amanda Rosa,
Miami Herald,
19 June 2026
Noun
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Competition demanded eye-catching enticements, even if the menus traded in the sort of sameness that equated to comfort.—
Bill Addison,
Los Angeles Times,
25 Apr. 2026
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In any case, today’s entering workforce, Generation Z, seems less likely to fall for those enticements than past workers starting their careers.—
Amy Lindgren,
Twin Cities,
14 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Temptations.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/temptations. Accessed 25 Jun. 2026.
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