TEMPT Synonyms: 65 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the verb 'tempt' differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of tempt are decoy , entice , inveigle , lure , and seduce . While all these words mean "to lead astray from one's true course," tempt implies the presenting of an attraction so strong that it overcomes the restraints of conscience or better judgment. // tempted by the offer of money

Q: When would 'decoy' be a good substitute for 'tempt'?

The words decoy and tempt are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, decoy implies a luring into entrapment by artifice. // attempting to decoy the enemy into an ambush

Q: When is it sensible to use 'entice' instead of 'tempt'?

While the synonyms entice and tempt are close in meaning, entice suggests drawing by artful or adroit means. // advertising designed to entice new customers

Q: When is 'inveigle' a more appropriate choice than 'tempt'?

The words inveigle and tempt can be used in similar contexts, but inveigle implies enticing by cajoling or flattering. // fund-raisers inveigling wealthy alumni

Q: When could 'lure' be used to replace 'tempt'?

Although the words lure and tempt have much in common, lure implies a drawing into danger, evil, or difficulty through attracting and deceiving. // lured naive investors with get-rich-quick schemes

Q: When can 'seduce' be used instead of 'tempt'?

The synonyms seduce and tempt are sometimes interchangeable, but seduce implies a leading astray by persuasion or false promises. // seduced by assurances of assistance

tempt

verb

ˈtem(p)t

Definition of tempt

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

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

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How does the verb tempt differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of tempt are decoy, entice, inveigle, lure, and seduce. While all these words mean "to lead astray from one's true course," tempt implies the presenting of an attraction so strong that it overcomes the restraints of conscience or better judgment.

tempted by the offer of money

When would decoy be a good substitute for tempt?

The words decoy and tempt are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, decoy implies a luring into entrapment by artifice.

attempting to decoy the enemy into an ambush

When is it sensible to use entice instead of tempt?

While the synonyms entice and tempt are close in meaning, entice suggests drawing by artful or adroit means.

advertising designed to entice new customers

When is inveigle a more appropriate choice than tempt?

The words inveigle and tempt can be used in similar contexts, but inveigle implies enticing by cajoling or flattering.

fund-raisers inveigling wealthy alumni

When could lure be used to replace tempt?

Although the words lure and tempt have much in common, lure implies a drawing into danger, evil, or difficulty through attracting and deceiving.

lured naive investors with get-rich-quick schemes

When can seduce be used instead of tempt?

The synonyms seduce and tempt are sometimes interchangeable, but seduce implies a leading astray by persuasion or false promises.

seduced by assurances of assistance

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of tempt Their highest-profile signing has come on the women’s side, tempting Polish great Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney, second at both the Tour de France and World Championships this season, to join from Canyon-SRAM. — Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 13 Oct. 2026 Israel, feeling more exposed, might become more inclined to strike preventively, and without the United States involved, Iran and its regional proxies might be more tempted to strike back. — Philip H. Gordon, Foreign Affairs, 12 Oct. 2026 Jeremy Strong making no facial expression as Mark Zuckerberg, on the other hand, was not intriguing enough to tempt theatergoers. — Bethy Squires, Vulture, 11 Oct. 2026 You might be tempted by that pair of puppy dog eyes in the pet store window. — Jane Sykes, Washington Post, 8 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for tempt

Recent Examples of Synonyms for tempt

Verb

This is a different message his predecessor, Greg Norman, had in 2022 when LIV Golf launched by spending more than $1 billion to lure away stars who couldn't ignore the money.

— ABC News, ABC News, 13 Oct. 2026
Rather than through a cold call or email, the scammers lure them through websites offering self-publishing or vanity publishing.

— Snigdha Poonam, The Dial, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of lure

Verb

Yet in a culture that equates progress with perpetual acceleration, to pause is to risk obsolescence.

— Shanti Escalante-De Mattei, ARTnews.com, 12 Oct. 2026
Mel Ismail, a 56-year-old father, was rescued by another surfer who just happened to show up at the beach and was willing to risk his own life by grabbing his board and heading towards the bloody water.

— Sean Joseph OutKick, FOXNews.com, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of risk

Verb

Armani’s languid silhouette soon seduced red- and blue-blooded men the world over.

— Robb Report, Robb Report, 9 Oct. 2026
The second allows the devil to slide into his DMs, utilizing a seduce-and-destroy approach that will eventually lead to Sutskever becoming OpenAI’s resident Chicken Little and the tech industry’s conscientious objector.

— David Fear, Rolling Stone, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of seduce

Verb

But while Cartman and Ike are in Sephora, they get enticed into going into the backrooms with an employee, which look straight out of Kane Parsons’ horror film.

— Payton Turkeltaub, Variety, 15 Oct. 2026
Some blame the content for not being enticing enough, while others contend that the programs could be promoted better on Netflix.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of entice

Verb

This line of defense didn’t persuade Sweeney, who reasoned that adding athletes with expired eligibility would mean more, not less, market competition.

— Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 13 Oct. 2026
The company’s reputation was built partly on persuading audiences to take chances on inexpensive, surprising horror outings — often with little more than a compelling premise to go on.

— Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of persuade

Verb

To take such a thing seriously in this age of nihilism and disenchantment betrays a person as potentially unserious, someone committed to abstraction, to feeling over logic and material reality.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 15 Oct. 2026
But in Season 4, the balance is off, and the fictional president’s parallels to our real-life war-starting, ally-betraying POTUS only make the former’s plight feel that much more trivial.

— Ben Travers, IndieWire, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of betray

Browse Nearby Words

temps

tempt

temptable

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“Tempt.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tempt. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of tempt

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