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
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
The casino now resides in many homes and daily tempts the occupants.
—Jacqueline Munis, Fortune, 28 Apr. 2026
Their taste runs so deeply Hollywood, their references so opulent and cinematic, that even a drink tray—in its cream lacquer and chrome border—tempts a standing ovation.
—Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 22 Apr. 2026
If a purchase tempts you, say your budget aloud, then choose the upgrade that truly supports daily life.
—Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 16 Apr. 2026
Like its predecessor, nearly every second of A Wave That Will Never Break tempts skepticism, albeit an inversion of that which WU LYF once inspired.
—Ian Cohen, Pitchfork, 16 Apr. 2026
The moon’s clash with Venus tempts you to diminish your worth.
—Usa Today, USA Today, 12 Apr. 2026
If a hobby upgrade tempts you, open a spreadsheet to compare options before opening your wallet!
—Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 3 Apr. 2026
November 22 – December 21 Which horizon tempts your curious steps now?
—Tarot.com, Chicago Tribune, 15 Feb. 2026
Jorge Ebro
may 6, Miami Herald, 6 May 2026
The casino now resides in many homes and daily tempts the occupants.
—Jacqueline Munis, Fortune, 28 Apr. 2026
Their taste runs so deeply Hollywood, their references so opulent and cinematic, that even a drink tray—in its cream lacquer and chrome border—tempts a standing ovation.
—Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 22 Apr. 2026
If a purchase tempts you, say your budget aloud, then choose the upgrade that truly supports daily life.
—Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 16 Apr. 2026
Like its predecessor, nearly every second of A Wave That Will Never Break tempts skepticism, albeit an inversion of that which WU LYF once inspired.
—Ian Cohen, Pitchfork, 16 Apr. 2026
The moon’s clash with Venus tempts you to diminish your worth.
—Usa Today, USA Today, 12 Apr. 2026
If a hobby upgrade tempts you, open a spreadsheet to compare options before opening your wallet!
—Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 3 Apr. 2026
November 22 – December 21 Which horizon tempts your curious steps now?
—Tarot.com, Chicago Tribune, 15 Feb. 2026
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
-
In taking on such an iconic figure—one whose compositions have been deconstructed and reconstructed in seemingly every possible direction—the group risks revealing the method to its madness.—
Levi Dayan,
Pitchfork,
11 May 2026
-
Selina, the slenderest of all the girls, risks her life to salvage it.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
11 May 2026
Verb
-
Borage An annual herb with bright bluish-purple flowers, borage entices important insects to the garden.—
Lauren David,
Martha Stewart,
24 Apr. 2026
-
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
Verb
-
The dinner scene with Niall’s mum, Lori (Neve McIntosh), and Ruben’s mum, Maura (Marianne McIvor) — when Joanna confronts them over Ruben’s behaviour — is both chilling and cathartic.—
K.J. Yossman,
Variety,
8 May 2026
-
During a particularly tense visit to his Florida home in her early 20s, Konkle confronts her dad about being inappropriate with her and other female friends.—
Savannah Walsh,
Vanity Fair,
6 May 2026
Verb
-
Le Petit Paris lures diners in with homemade quiche, macarons, gourmet salads with warm goat cheese, and toasted croissant sandwiches with fig and blue cheese or brie and honey.—
Terry Ward,
Travel + Leisure,
9 May 2026
-
Spring’s warmer weather lures people outdoors – and into possible contact with ticks that spread Lyme disease.—
Lakshmi Chauhan,
The Conversation,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
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
-
But the plot also retains a serial quality that saps momentum and betrays its TV roots.—
Naveen Kumar,
Variety,
21 Apr. 2026
-
Don’t skip eye cream The under-eye area is often the first place that betrays a late night or an early alarm.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Miami Herald,
16 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Tempts.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tempts. Accessed 13 May. 2026.
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