1
as in to lure
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 to risk
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
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Recent Examples of tempt
As summer beckons, you may be tempted to coast until Labor Day before starting your job search.
—
Vicki Salemi, Boston Herald, 1 June 2025
But while you may be tempted to spend your days sunning, building sand castles, and splashing in the waves (all of which are fabulous), don’t miss out on researching nearby attractions.
—Jennifer Prince, Southern Living, 30 May 2025
Toward the end, Swit was tempted to leave the show.
—Mark Kennedy, Chicago Tribune, 30 May 2025
You’ll be tempted to stop here, but keep hiking south along the beach for 1.3 miles to hit Point of Arches, a mile-long cluster of sea stacks dotting the breaks just off the sand.
—Graham Averill, Outside Online, 29 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for tempt
Vicki Salemi, Boston Herald, 1 June 2025
But while you may be tempted to spend your days sunning, building sand castles, and splashing in the waves (all of which are fabulous), don’t miss out on researching nearby attractions.
—Jennifer Prince, Southern Living, 30 May 2025
Toward the end, Swit was tempted to leave the show.
—Mark Kennedy, Chicago Tribune, 30 May 2025
You’ll be tempted to stop here, but keep hiking south along the beach for 1.3 miles to hit Point of Arches, a mile-long cluster of sea stacks dotting the breaks just off the sand.
—Graham Averill, Outside Online, 29 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for tempt
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tempt
Verb
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The company recently ended its incentive program, known as customer commitment packages, to lure and maintain customers on the heels of the incident.—
Samantha Subin,
CNBC,
4 June 2025
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The result is that homes are sitting idle on the market, forcing sellers to offer price cuts to lure in buyers.—
Giulia Carbonaro,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 June 2025
Verb
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Conversely, adding capacity without aligning inventory policies risks idle assets or ongoing shortages.—
Dileep Rai,
Forbes.com,
12 June 2025
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In using force against his own citizens, the leader risks alienating supporters and activating resistance. June 11, 2025 What happens next in Los Angeles between the military and protesters — which group is perceived as the aggressors — may likely determine what happens next in our democracy.—
Anita Chabria,
Los Angeles Times,
11 June 2025
Verb
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As their powerbrokers get seduced by the riches of T20 franchise cricket and as popularity for Test cricket declines among their countrymen, South Africa’s future in the longest and most traditional format has been of major concern.—
Tristan Lavalette,
Forbes.com,
14 June 2025
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American culture has long inspired military service, with recruits seduced by action movies and promises of heroic returns to the U.S.—
Jacob Ware,
The Conversation,
12 June 2025
Verb
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Working in recognizable horror subgenres, Byrne entices you with a familiar premise and then slowly teases apart the tropes, leaving you unsettled but also invigorated by his inventiveness.—
Tim Grierson,
Los Angeles Times,
6 June 2025
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This wine entices with blackberry, plum, allspice and vanilla with smooth tannins and a bright acidity.—
Forbes.com,
Forbes.com,
5 June 2025
Verb
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Jonathan Ernst | Reuters European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen managed to persuade the president to give talks more time but, as things stand, the EU has until July 9 to reach a deal with Washington.—
Holly Ellyatt,
CNBC,
6 June 2025
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Be on alert for phishing scams – Fraudsters regularly send emails that appear to be from a reputable source in order to persuade individuals to provide valuable personal information, such as access codes, credit card numbers, Social Security numbers, account numbers, etc.—
Rick Unser,
Forbes.com,
5 June 2025
Verb
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After her family and community betray her, Victoria takes refuge in the wilderness, finding the strength to rebuild her life.—
Bridget Crocker,
People.com,
3 June 2025
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But then the Unfairly Ever After came through with a delicious twist — the winning villain betrays the Magic Mirror, as villains do.—
Robert Niles,
Oc Register,
3 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Tempt.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tempt. Accessed 18 Jun. 2025.
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