1
as in lured
to lead away from a usual or proper course by offering some pleasure or advantage
that chocolate dessert sure tempts me, but I should stick with my diet
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in risked
to take a chance on
refusing to lay in enough food for the long winter tempts the dangers of starvation
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of tempted
While you may be tempted to blame other animals such as opossums or snakes, or even coyotes for making holes or burrows in your yard, these creatures are more likely to use existing animal holes for their dens.
—
Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 6 May 2026
But a remarkable number of Americans are tempted by that departure terminal barstool as well, regardless of what the clocks say.
—Tristan Bove, Fortune, 6 May 2026
They’d be tempted to betray themselves or others.
—Anna Wiener, New Yorker, 4 May 2026
If you’re tempted to act on seasonal patterns, consider doing it with a small portion of your portfolio while keeping your core investments aligned with your long-term plan.
—Bydoug Ashburn, Encyclopedia Britannica, 4 May 2026
Your mind is racing, and you’re tempted to say something impulsive, especially in a text, DM or conversation that triggers you.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 4 May 2026
But the four-hour series’ greatest achievement is that, for all the inevitable comparisons one might be tempted to make, this Lord of the Flies is wholly its own thing, as audacious and yet devoted to its source material as any TV adaptation in recent memory.
—Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 4 May 2026
If you’re tempted by the prospect of ripping out old cabinets and resorting to lower-cost open shelving, Teel recommends staying away from open shelving or glass cabinetry to keep your space from looking cluttered.
—Marisa Suzanne Martin, The Spruce, 4 May 2026
You’d have been tempted to say it was meant to be.
—Phil Hay, New York Times, 27 Apr. 2026
Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 6 May 2026
But a remarkable number of Americans are tempted by that departure terminal barstool as well, regardless of what the clocks say.
—Tristan Bove, Fortune, 6 May 2026
They’d be tempted to betray themselves or others.
—Anna Wiener, New Yorker, 4 May 2026
If you’re tempted to act on seasonal patterns, consider doing it with a small portion of your portfolio while keeping your core investments aligned with your long-term plan.
—Bydoug Ashburn, Encyclopedia Britannica, 4 May 2026
Your mind is racing, and you’re tempted to say something impulsive, especially in a text, DM or conversation that triggers you.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 4 May 2026
But the four-hour series’ greatest achievement is that, for all the inevitable comparisons one might be tempted to make, this Lord of the Flies is wholly its own thing, as audacious and yet devoted to its source material as any TV adaptation in recent memory.
—Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 4 May 2026
If you’re tempted by the prospect of ripping out old cabinets and resorting to lower-cost open shelving, Teel recommends staying away from open shelving or glass cabinetry to keep your space from looking cluttered.
—Marisa Suzanne Martin, The Spruce, 4 May 2026
You’d have been tempted to say it was meant to be.
—Phil Hay, New York Times, 27 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tempted
Verb
-
The department, officials told The Times, also has lost several deputies to other nearby departments, lured with bonuses and better pay.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
1 May 2026
-
The prosecution showed the jurors chilling video and audio evidence that included Athena’s last moments after Horner lured her inside the FedEx van.—
Harriet Ramos,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Even more frightening is a judge apologizing to an assassin who risked the lives of 2,000 people while attempting to assassinate the president and his cabinet.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
8 May 2026
-
To slow down in such situations could have risked the lives of others, the attorney said.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
7 May 2026
Verb
-
Onscreen, Andy was being seduced by a heavily jawed man with blond hair.—
Anna Wiener,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
-
Every summer, stylish crowds congregate along France’s southeastern shores, seduced by the glamorous promise of the French Riviera, spending their days sipping overpriced cocktails at the high-end resorts that line its sandy beaches as if plucked straight from a Slim Aarons photo.—
Monica Mendal,
Vogue,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The Fed began purchasing mortgages during the Great Recession and even ventured into corporate bond purchases during the pandemic.—
Steve Liesman,Matt Peterson,
CNBC,
4 May 2026
-
Andy and Sandra Nash ventured out during their camping trip to Dos Picos County Park to sample a few wines at the April 18 Cheers to the Valley at Begent Ranch in Ramona.—
Julie Gallant,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
1 May 2026
Verb
-
That allegedly enticed consumers to spend more to purchase the new devices.—
Queenie Wong,
Los Angeles Times,
6 May 2026
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This plan includes guest worker programs, clear pathways for immigrants and their families who are here seeking to make a better life for their families and who were enticed to come here by the prior federal administration.—
Kaitlyn Schallhorn,
Oc Register,
4 May 2026
Verb
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That performance persuaded Combs to run Dust Commander 15 days later in the 1 1/8-mile Blue Grass Stakes.—
Neil Milbert,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Apr. 2026
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From there, partiers mingle in the lobby, pose for photographs on a red carpet, and search out any celebrities who have been persuaded to show up.—
Shane Harris,
The Atlantic,
27 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Tempted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tempted. Accessed 10 May. 2026.
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