tempting 1 of 3

adjective

Definition of temptingnext
as in enticing

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tempting

2 of 3

noun

as in seduction

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tempting

3 of 3

verb

present participle of tempt
1
as in luring
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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in risking
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

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of tempting
Adjective
The founder arc is tempting to simplify (finance burnout, wellness awakening, brand launch), but Baldet didn’t exactly leave her past life behind here. — Lela London, Forbes.com, 29 June 2026 As tempting as slicking on a coat of foundation and calling it a day sounds, the best way to achieve true, Witherspoon-level ethereal skin is by prepping it with a moisturizing base. — Irene Richardson, InStyle, 28 June 2026
Noun
In the same way that Christ fasted to resist the tempting of the biblical adversary, many Christians are also called to fast and give up the temptations of their daily lives during Lent. — Rin Velasco, The Providence Journal, 20 Feb. 2026
Verb
That has sent maritime insurance rates through the roof and given some financiers and shipping companies cold feet about tempting fate and navigating through the troubled waters. — David Goldman, CNN Money, 15 June 2026 Non Weather-Resistant Rugs Throwing any old rug out on your patio may be tempting once the weather warms up, especially since a quality weather-resistant rug can be a hefty investment. — Cori Sears, The Spruce, 13 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for tempting
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tempting
  1. enticing
  2. seduction
  3. luring
  4. risking
  5. tantalizing
  6. exhortation
  7. seducing
  8. alluring
Adjective
  • The menu here is dominated by seafood and fish and has an enticing pan-Asian flair, as well as an expansive wine and sake list.
    — Maya Kachroo-Levine, Travel + Leisure, 7 July 2026
  • For scientists, the milestone promises the enticing potential of unlocking secrets of the universe that have long remained elusive.
    — Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 7 July 2026
Definition of enticing
Noun
  • Hurlbut agreed that the seduction of AI is its ease and accessibility.
    — Marc Ramirez, USA Today, 3 July 2026
  • The rhythm of the writing shows the staccato nature of those relationships, with their stops and starts, and how sometimes signs of seduction cannot be misinterpreted or not picked up at all.
    — Murtada Elfadl, Variety, 26 June 2026
Definition of seduction
Verb
  • For the past two years, Indian IPO markets have seen frenzied activity, luring even multinational companies to list their India business units.
    — Priyanka Salve, CNBC, 9 July 2026
  • Home to the filming of hits like Reservation Dogs, Tulsa King, and Killers of the Flower Moon, Oklahoma's pop culture is luring travelers.
    — CNT Editors, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 July 2026
Definition of luring
Verb
  • During a day trip to Lampedusa, a gateway for migrants risking dangerous Mediterranean crossings into Europe from Africa, the pope urged European leaders to do more to assist arrivals, which ​have topped 7,000 this year.
    — Reuters, NBC news, 4 July 2026
  • During a day trip to Lampedusa, a gateway for migrants risking dangerous Mediterranean crossings into Europe from Africa, the pope urged European leaders to do more to assist arrivals, which have topped ‌7,000 this year.
    — Joshua McElwee, USA Today, 4 July 2026
Definition of risking
Adjective
  • Dispatch co-host Canada in the Round of 16 today and a potential tantalizing shot at juggernaut France awaits.
    — Ben Church, CNN Money, 4 July 2026
  • The most tantalizing head-to-head in this half of the draw is still the potential quarterfinal between Gauff and Jessica Pegula.
    — Ava Wallace, New York Times, 2 July 2026
Definition of tantalizing
Noun
  • Lundberg writes that the poem is both an explication of the promise of America and an exhortation to persevere on behalf of the country.
    — The Atlantic, The Atlantic, 8 June 2026
  • Advertisement While Pulisic is no recluse—he’ll go to an occasional nice dinner with friends—exhortations to step out more go mostly unheeded.
    — Sean Gregory, Time, 7 May 2026
Definition of exhortation
Verb
  • The writer thinks that the person seducing the main character is just some flotsam, hardly worth a second look.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 26 June 2026
  • That means seducing Paris Carver, Elliot's wife and Bond's ex, portrayed by Teri Hatcher.
    — John Russell, PEOPLE, 19 May 2026
Definition of seducing
Adjective
  • Enter their noisy yet impossibly chic upstairs neighbors, Hawk (Norton) and Pína (Penélope Cruz), who make an alluring proposition that forces Joe and Angela to reevaluate their relationship.
    — Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 7 July 2026
  • While the success rate of Skarsgård Green-Card Marriages is currently at zero (noll), we’re encouraged by the odds of one in seventeen to forty-one Skarsgårds eventually being worn down enough to settle for one of our alluring clients.
    — Sarah Hutto, New Yorker, 7 July 2026
Definition of alluring

Browse Nearby Words

tempters
tempting
temptingly
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Cite this Entry

“Tempting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tempting. Accessed 12 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on tempting

Nglish: Translation of tempting for Spanish Speakers

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