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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of tempts
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
Perhaps the thought of no more disappointment tempts you.
—Shai Tubali, Big Think, 5 Aug. 2025
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
Perhaps the thought of no more disappointment tempts you.
—Shai Tubali, Big Think, 5 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
-
Trump’s desire to bundle the bills and amendments together also risks imperiling the appropriations legislation.—
Zach LaChance,
The Washington Examiner,
23 Mar. 2026
-
Because the law prohibits sharing confidential investigative data outside of law enforcement, this new unit risks settling cases that are part of much larger, pending investigations.—
Summer Stephan,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
23 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
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
-
Your starter entices with a spicy-tangy flavor, leading into the classic roasted chicken entree.—
Alana Al-Hatlani,
Southern Living,
31 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Watch for being overly reactive as the Gemini moon confronts Mars.—
USA TODAY,
USA Today,
24 Mar. 2026
-
In the memoir, Donovan confronts the origins of his mental health issues, talks about growing up poor in a 900-square-foot home managed heroically by his single mother, Donna, and how even his greatest successes on the field left him unfulfilled.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
24 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Just around the corner, the hotel’s compact fitness centre lures even the least fitness-enthusiastic guests, thanks to knockout treadmill views extending to the bay.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
20 Mar. 2026
-
A world away from the big resorts on in Los Cabos but only an hour-and-a-half drive, Todos Santos lures those looking for a quieter escape.—
The Editors,
Outside,
18 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The confidence heuristic explains why certainty persuades us.—
Nick Dothée,
The Atlantic,
22 Mar. 2026
-
But then a mysterious Romany woman (Rebecca Ferguson) turns up, and persuades him to return to Birmingham, in order to bring his violent illegitimate son (Barry Keoghan) – who now runs his Peaky Blinders mob – to heel.—
The Week UK,
TheWeek,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
After Sugar betrays her, Barbara cuts her friend off for decades, despite missing her deeply.—
Isle McElroy,
The Atlantic,
16 Mar. 2026
-
But even this was a poor comparison for sumo’s place in the racial politics of Japan today; boxing, after all, was brought to America from England, while sumo, like Kabuki, is one of Japan’s few expressive institutions whose folklore betrays little trace of outside influence.—
Joshua Hunt,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Tempts.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tempts. Accessed 30 Mar. 2026.
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