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 of temptation

• seduction
• lure

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

Taylor returns from ‘The Bachelorette’ with unfinished business, an old temptation and the pressure of life in the public eye. — Selome Hailu, Variety, 26 Aug. 2026

Taylor returns from The Bachelorette with unfinished business, an old temptation, and the pressure of life in the public eye. — Mckinley Franklin, HollywoodReporter, 26 Aug. 2026

But once those opportunities have been funded, management should resist the temptation to pursue lower-quality projects simply to use available cash. — Robert Daugherty, Forbes.com, 23 Aug. 2026

Resist temptation on the waiver wire While there are compelling reasons to be bullish about the power play, the penalty kill is another matter. — Thomas Drance, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2026

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
• aeration
• bination
• carnation
• cassation
• castration
• causation
• centration
• cessation
• cetacean
• chelation
• citation

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