1
as in seduction
the pressure to give in to a desire for easy or immediate pleasure
he felt the temptation to go sailing, but did his chores instead
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in lure
something that persuades one to perform an action for pleasure or gain
money, power, and other overwhelming temptations can seduce a person to a life of crime
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of temptation
Living in New York City in your 20s can get pricey, with rising rent, food and transportation costs — not to mention the constant temptation to try something fun or buy something new.
—
Tereza Shkurtaj, People.com, 19 Apr. 2025
Sharing is a fundamental part of any equal partnership, but sometimes temptation gets the better of us.
—Arick Wierson, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Apr. 2025
As a Canadian, she’s also stayed put in Toronto, resisting the temptation to move to Los Angeles to be closer to an industry she’s had just as much success collaborating with from across the North American border.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 9 Apr. 2025
Yet, for Hughes, it was deemed a price worth paying, even after the Southampton game when the temptation to become drawn into a public debate may have been acute.
—Simon Hughes, New York Times, 11 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for temptation
Tereza Shkurtaj, People.com, 19 Apr. 2025
Sharing is a fundamental part of any equal partnership, but sometimes temptation gets the better of us.
—Arick Wierson, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Apr. 2025
As a Canadian, she’s also stayed put in Toronto, resisting the temptation to move to Los Angeles to be closer to an industry she’s had just as much success collaborating with from across the North American border.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 9 Apr. 2025
Yet, for Hughes, it was deemed a price worth paying, even after the Southampton game when the temptation to become drawn into a public debate may have been acute.
—Simon Hughes, New York Times, 11 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for temptation
Recent Examples of Synonyms for temptation
Noun
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Ads like Carl’s Jr.’s are unsubtle seductions, but what is The Substance trying to seduce its viewers into experiencing and considering otherwise?—
Angelica Jade Bastién,
Vulture,
12 Feb. 2025
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The filmmakers’ gaze sometimes stops to watch a specific event, like a dance or a discreet seduction.—
Murtada Elfadl,
Variety,
27 Mar. 2025
Noun
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The lure back to Annapolis, though, was too strong.—
Jeff Zrebiec,
New York Times,
14 Apr. 2025
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And not just any wand toy, this one specifically and its original feather attachment, which uses the same swivel mechanism as a fishing lure to create movement through the air that registers as 100 percent authentic to cats.—
Molly Higgins,
Wired News,
11 Apr. 2025
Noun
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The Trump administration is also working to undo incentives around clean energy, particularly the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act.—
Umair Irfan,
Wired News,
26 Apr. 2025
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Other countries that have tried similar monetary incentives have had mixed success.—
Anne Marie D. Lee,
CBS News,
25 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Temptation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/temptation. Accessed 30 Apr. 2025.
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