TEMPTATION Synonyms: 46 Similar and Opposite Words

temptation

noun

tem(p)-ˈtā-shən

Definition of temptation

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

Relevance

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

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 temptation Don’t cut the apprenticeship For employers, better output creates a temptation to hire fewer juniors. — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 10 Oct. 2026 As the frontman of the Killers, Flowers, 45, has spent more than two decades singing about the struggles and the temptations at the heart of the American dream. — Mikael Wood, Los Angeles Times, 9 Oct. 2026 As a surgeon surrounded every day by the fragile line between life and death, temptation is never far away. — Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 7 Oct. 2026 With tours filling and accommodation being booked, the temptation is to chase the longest possible totality. — Jamie Carter, Space.com, 3 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for temptation

Recent Examples of Synonyms for temptation

Noun

In this seduction, in a text that manages to be both grandiose and intimate, Rice works the mysterious alchemy of creating permanence.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 7 Oct. 2026
Collections this week were versatile, taking the client from day to evening with a sense of seduction and confidence.

— Samantha Conti, Footwear News, 28 Sep. 2026

Definition of seduction

Noun

The lure of becoming the first player in NBA history to win a championship with four different franchises seems to be enough motivation.

— ABC News, ABC News, 13 Oct. 2026
The lure of becoming the first player in NBA history to win a championship with four franchises seems to be enough motivation.

— Tim Reynolds, Chicago Tribune, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of lure

Noun

Strong demand for oil, particularly from Asia, continues to provide an incentive for tanker operators to transport energy supplies from the Persian Gulf, even as security threats complicate voyages.

— Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 16 Oct. 2026
But Sawie emphasized that this work is just part of the solution, noting that real progress can’t be made until farmers have access to reliable markets and incentives that recognize the work put into transitioning to organic practices.

— Jennifer Bringle, Footwear News, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of incentive

Browse Nearby Words

temptable

temptation

temptations

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

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

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Synonyms of temptation

noun

Example Sentences

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