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

For many, the temptation is to throw up their hands in frustration, but giving in to hopelessness is not an option. —Marybeth Gasman, Forbes, 24 Feb. 2025

Robert Kagan: Trump is facing a catastrophic defeat in Ukraine Europeans and Americans, Democrats and Republicans, can resist the temptations of boredom and distraction. —Anne Applebaum, The Atlantic, 24 Feb. 2025

But other farmers are giving in to the temptation for cash in hand without delay, quietly selling outside of the cooperative structure. —Peter S. Goodman, New York Times, 22 Feb. 2025

Yet these gains could vanish if Trump succumbs to the perennial second-term temptation of foreign policy overreach. —Matthew Continetti, National Review, 22 Feb. 2025

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

Rhymes for temptation

• ablation
• bination
• carnation
• cassation
• castration
• causation
• centration
• cessation
• cetacean
• chelation
• citation
• collation

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