TEMPTS Synonyms: 65 Similar and Opposite Words

tempts

verb

present tense third-person singular of tempt

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

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in risks

to take a chance on refusing to lay in enough food for the long winter tempts the dangers of starvation

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 tempts On Main Street, Artful Ellijay promises casual yet refined home furnishings, while Mountain Treasures tempts shoppers with everything from ladies’ apparel to jewelry and accessories. — Katie Strasberg Rousso, Southern Living, 15 Oct. 2026 For most, fear of shame is a necessary backstop to push people away from what wrongly tempts them. — Robert A. Ballingall, The Conversation, 13 Oct. 2026 While Sal tempts Sessa’s Bourdain with drugs, thievery and more bad behavior. — Laurie Ochoa, Los Angeles Times, 11 Aug. 2026 The slight dogleg to the right tempts players to take an aggressive line off the tee, but an expansive waste bunker guards the shortcut and punishes any miscalculation. — Jeff Goudy, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026 Daniel’s presence is but one of many not-so-subtle ways Lestat tempts Louis back into his life. — Ben Travers, IndieWire, 7 June 2026 Doue and Dembele also drop into midfield, while Kvaratskhelia is his usual destructive self off the left, rounding off a nightmare of rotations and raw running power that tempts defences out of their shape before smashing through. — Sarah Shephard, New York Times, 29 May 2026 Frida is the most significant secondary figure — the person who tempts Gabrielle away from her trajectory, making her pause and ponder roads not taken. — Jon Frosch, HollywoodReporter, 13 May 2026 Boxing tempts him, the business world motivates him and his role as a promoter excites him. — Jorge Ebro may 6, Miami Herald, 6 May 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for tempts

Verb

Artificial plays like a modern-day parable in which the trickster god seduces the innocent.

— E. Alex Jung, Vulture, 2 Oct. 2026
Diaz centers music as the emotional vehicle that provides a philosophical structure for the character tropes and in turn psychologically seduces the audience to internalize certain ideas of social dynamics.

— Damaly Gonzalez, ARTnews.com, 30 Sep. 2026

Definition of seduces

Verb

Republicans, however, could take advantage of Newsom’s action and cast him as a soft-on-crime liberal who is out of touch with most Americans, which risks turning away moderate voters.

— Taryn Luna, Los Angeles Times, 7 Nov. 2026
The fresh jobs data, meanwhile, arrived at a delicate moment for the Federal Reserve, where policymakers are weighing a rate increase that could help tackle inflation but risks a slowdown in hiring.

— Max Zahn, ABC News, 6 Nov. 2026

Definition of risks

Verb

But visitors can also expect an unrivalled food scene, a thriving nightlife, world-class museums, unique architecture and a medieval old town that entices you to just keep wandering.

— Jaymi McCann, TheWeek, 3 Nov. 2026
Turkey’s growing hair transplant and restoration industry in particular entices people with easy-to-digest all-inclusive packages advertised on their websites, online placements, and social media.

— Elizabeth Gulino, Allure, 23 Sep. 2026

Definition of entices

Verb

America confronts a changing political landscape following the 2026 midterm elections, Williams brings together political analysts, journalists, and medical experts to examine the most pressing issues facing the nation.

— Bill Wachsberger, Baltimore Sun, 6 Nov. 2026
Bertha plans her return to New York City; her relationship with George Russell (Morgan Spector) is left in a lurch, and Larry confronts him about the status of his parents’ relationship.

— Meredith Wilshere, PEOPLE, 2 Nov. 2026

Definition of confronts

Verb

Edith finds her and lures her away to a better life on the internet, leaving Edith in charge of Paladin’s gear and systems.

— Tasha Robinson, Vulture, 28 Oct. 2026
With sports the only programming format that truly lures the sizable and simultaneous crowds advertisers covet, Netflix may want to beef up its expertise.

— Brian Steinberg, Variety, 27 Oct. 2026

Definition of lures

Verb

Nevertheless, Baron Cohen persuades real politicians, including Gingrich and Congressman Andy Harris, to condemn the fake cartel leader.

— Maxwell Adler, Vanity Fair, 27 Oct. 2026
Fielder persuades Holmes to watch it for the first time, on a laptop in the couple’s bed.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of persuades

Browse Nearby Words

temptresses

tempts

ten

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Tempts.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tempts. Accessed 9 Nov. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of tempts

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

wabi-sabi

Popular in Grammar & Usage

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Popular in Wordplay

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Old-Timey Vehicles

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes