tempting

adjective

tempt·​ing ˈtem(p)-tiŋ How to pronounce tempting (audio)
: having an appeal : enticing
a tempting offer
temptingly adverb

Examples of tempting in a Sentence

The desserts look very tempting. It is tempting to think of him as the next American president.
Recent Examples on the Web But over the holidays, a glass of red wine or a cup of tea is ever-so tempting– increasing the chances of teeth yellowing. India Espy-Jones, Essence, 9 Nov. 2023 Either way, the price remains a tempting $36,245 to start. IEEE Spectrum, 8 Nov. 2023 Answering these questions is hard—judging by their cyclical recurrence, perhaps even impossible—and comparison offers a tempting shortcut: far easier to size up the dimensions of your own life if it’s lined up next to someone else’s. Willing Davidson, The New Yorker, 6 Nov. 2023 While large plants are tempting, small plants adapt best to their new homes. Nan Sterman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Nov. 2023 According to researchers at the Oregon Hatchery Research Center in Alsea, Oregon, the scent of ale is tempting to fish, too, and could successfully lure salmon back to their home hatcheries. Sean Mowbray, Discover Magazine, 20 Oct. 2023 And there were other reasons the offer was tempting. Adam Nagourney, New York Times, 29 Oct. 2023 Although impressing your family members with a soufflé or galette is tempting, Dalkin recommends that travelers consider something a little more simple. Lizzy Rosenberg, Peoplemag, 29 Oct. 2023 And she’s not nearly done, as evidenced by her willingness to take risks and shake up her routine instead of falling into the tempting but dangerous trap of complacency. Helene Elliott, Los Angeles Times, 27 Oct. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'tempting.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

from present participle of tempt

First Known Use

1588, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of tempting was in 1588

Dictionary Entries Near tempting

Cite this Entry

“Tempting.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tempting. Accessed 28 Nov. 2023.

Kids Definition

tempting

adjective
tempt·​ing ˈtem(p)-tiŋ How to pronounce tempting (audio)
: having a strong attraction
the food all looked tempting
temptingly adverb
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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