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

But realism is also an aesthetic, with its own temptations. —Joshua Rothman, The New Yorker, 22 Oct. 2024

There’s nostalgia and wish fulfillment, and various opportunities (temptations, even) to reset the entire narrative and return to the comfort of equilibrium — but this has never been a show to shy away from a challenge. —Proma Khosla, IndieWire, 21 Oct. 2024

Content creators shouldn’t lose sight of their core strengths and should resist the temptation to pivot or try to copy others’ success constantly. —Adam Rumanek, Forbes, 18 Oct. 2024

While some of us will always feel the temptation to immerse ourselves in the gloomy and supernatural, the more potent form of escapism at play in this revival is nostalgia for the recent past. —Judy Berman, TIME, 10 Oct. 2024

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

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