temptation

noun

temp·​ta·​tion tem(p)-ˈtā-shən 

1

: the act of tempting or the state of being tempted especially to evil : enticement

2

: something tempting : a cause or occasion of enticement

Synonyms

• allurement
• enticement
• lure
• seduction

Examples of temptation in a Sentence

Money is always a temptation.

The dessert menu has a lot of delicious temptations.

the temptations of the city

Recent Examples on the Web

The Monist Trap: A temptation for leaders is to go a for a simple message, that is easy to remember but plays on a limited set of values. —Hec Paris Insights, Forbes.com, 25 June 2025

Eurydice, like these other works, seems to be imploring us to live, to love, to remember—but so acute is the pain of loss that the temptation to forget is strong, and so artists keep revisiting it, keep testing the waters. —Pamela Newton june 24, Literary Hub, 24 June 2025

No temptation to get back out on the road at all, if that’s where the money is? —Chris Willman, Variety, 22 June 2025

In short, when you are hurt by the actions of others, resist the temptation to inflict more hurt. —Donna Vickroy, Chicago Tribune, 19 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English temptacioun "testing, enticement to sin," borrowed from Anglo-French tentacion, borrowed from Late Latin temptātiōn-, temptātiō "enticement to sin," going back to Latin, "attempt, attack," from temptāre "to feel, test, attempt, make an assault on, attack" + -tiōn-, -tiō, suffix of verbal action — more at tempt

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for temptation

• ablation
• bination
• carnation
• cassation
• castration
• causation
• centration
• cessation
• cetacean
• chelation
• citation
• collation

Kids Definition

temptation

noun

temp·​ta·​tion tem(p)-ˈtā-shən 

1

: the act of tempting : the state of being tempted especially to evil

2

: something tempting