1
as in seduces
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 risks
to take a chance on
refusing to lay in enough food for the long winter tempts the dangers of starvation
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Recent Examples of tempts
If a hobby upgrade tempts you, open a spreadsheet to compare options before opening your wallet!
—
Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 3 Apr. 2026
Sagittarius November 22 – December 21 Which horizon tempts your curious steps now?
—Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 15 Feb. 2026
November 22 – December 21 Which horizon tempts your curious steps now?
—Tarot.com, Chicago Tribune, 15 Feb. 2026
An untrustworthy future tempts us to either disengage, retreat into cynicism, or live angry.
—Phillip Halpern, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Jan. 2026
In Indiana, Paoli Peaks features the Arctic Blast Tubing Park, and Perfect North Slopes tempts with 25 tubing lanes (as well as skiing and snowboarding).
—Ginger Crichton, Midwest Living, 9 Jan. 2026
This year’s offer tempts travelers with fares starting at just $199, up to $1,000 in onboard credit to elevate every moment spent at sea, and select sailings where children sail free.
—Paris Wilson, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 Dec. 2025
Unwind Along the Coast Zanzibar, a Tanzanian archipelago off the coast of East Africa, tempts with spice tours, rooftop cocktails, and sunset dhow sails.
—Karin Jones, Travel + Leisure, 4 Sep. 2025
The device contains, among other things, doorways to other dimensions, including one that tempts Peacemaker with a seemingly storybook version of his broken family.
—Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 22 Aug. 2025
Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 3 Apr. 2026
Sagittarius November 22 – December 21 Which horizon tempts your curious steps now?
—Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 15 Feb. 2026
November 22 – December 21 Which horizon tempts your curious steps now?
—Tarot.com, Chicago Tribune, 15 Feb. 2026
An untrustworthy future tempts us to either disengage, retreat into cynicism, or live angry.
—Phillip Halpern, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Jan. 2026
In Indiana, Paoli Peaks features the Arctic Blast Tubing Park, and Perfect North Slopes tempts with 25 tubing lanes (as well as skiing and snowboarding).
—Ginger Crichton, Midwest Living, 9 Jan. 2026
This year’s offer tempts travelers with fares starting at just $199, up to $1,000 in onboard credit to elevate every moment spent at sea, and select sailings where children sail free.
—Paris Wilson, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 Dec. 2025
Unwind Along the Coast Zanzibar, a Tanzanian archipelago off the coast of East Africa, tempts with spice tours, rooftop cocktails, and sunset dhow sails.
—Karin Jones, Travel + Leisure, 4 Sep. 2025
The device contains, among other things, doorways to other dimensions, including one that tempts Peacemaker with a seemingly storybook version of his broken family.
—Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 22 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tempts
Verb
-
Intrigued, the Duke secretly seduces Gilda, breaks her heart and destroys Rigoletto’s life.—
Pam Kragen,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
22 Mar. 2026
-
The victim of his sacrifice is Gretchen, a virgin whom Faust seduces and abandons in his devilish reverie, and who kills their illegitimate child.—
Merve Emre,
New Yorker,
1 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
High oil prices sparked by the Iran war are accelerating Latin America’s oil boom, though the growth risks exacerbating economic inequality across the region, analysts said.—
Jeronimo Gonzalez,
semafor.com,
20 Apr. 2026
-
The result risks turning a generation of developing minds into guinea pigs, while the biggest gains flow not to students, but to tech companies.—
Catherine Thorbecke,
Boston Herald,
18 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Loot boxes in the crosshairs James alleges Valve entices players to pay for a chance to win a rare virtual item, and that those rare items can be traded for real money in accordance with their rarity.—
Jesse Zanger,
CBS News,
25 Feb. 2026
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Your starter entices with a spicy-tangy flavor, leading into the classic roasted chicken entree.—
Alana Al-Hatlani,
Southern Living,
31 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
If the former is about the inevitability of falling in love, a complete surrender beyond the speaker’s control, the latter confronts the pain of romantic love’s aftermath.—
Hanif Abdurraqib,
New Yorker,
17 Apr. 2026
-
Here, sister Norma heads a historic peasant organization in southern Mexico that confronts violence and impunity.—
John Hopewell,
Variety,
17 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
At the same time, Katie gets abducted by a mysterious neighbor (Hayat Kamille), who lures her in with her favorite chocolates.—
Gregory Nussen,
Deadline,
16 Apr. 2026
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An eccentric poodle breeder lures a broke college student to her remote ranch with a promise of research funding.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
16 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Whale lusts after a hunky gardener (Brendan Fraser) and persuades him to pose for a few sketches; Julian, though bisexual, expresses no such interest in Lori, and any art-making turns out to be a gratifyingly mutual endeavor.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
3 Apr. 2026
-
The confidence heuristic explains why certainty persuades us.—
Nick Dothée,
The Atlantic,
22 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Sometimes a small chink in your camouflage betrays you to a wary tom.—
Bruce Brady,
Outdoor Life,
8 Apr. 2026
-
After Sugar betrays her, Barbara cuts her friend off for decades, despite missing her deeply.—
Isle McElroy,
The Atlantic,
16 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Tempts.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tempts. Accessed 23 Apr. 2026.
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