tempt

verb

ˈtem(p)t 

tempted; tempting; tempts

transitive verb

1

: to entice to do wrong by promise of pleasure or gain

2

a

: to induce to do something

b

: to cause to be strongly inclined

was tempted to call it quits

3

a

: to try presumptuously : provoke

tempt fate

b

: to risk the dangers of

c

obsolete : to make trial of : test

temptable

ˈtem(p)-tə-bəl 

adjective

Synonyms

• allure
• bait
• beguile
• betray
• decoy
• entice
• lead on
• lure
• seduce
• solicit

Choose the Right Synonym for tempt

lure, entice, inveigle, decoy, tempt, seduce mean to lead astray from one's true course.

lure implies a drawing into danger, evil, or difficulty through attracting and deceiving.

lured naive investors with get-rich-quick schemes

entice suggests drawing by artful or adroit means.

advertising designed to entice new customers

inveigle implies enticing by cajoling or flattering.

fund-raisers inveigling wealthy alumni

decoy implies a luring into entrapment by artifice.

attempting to decoy the enemy into an ambush

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

seduce implies a leading astray by persuasion or false promises.

seduced by assurances of assistance

Examples of tempt in a Sentence

that chocolate dessert sure tempts me, but I should stick with my diet

refusing to lay in enough food for the long winter tempts the dangers of starvation

Recent Examples on the Web

After this went down, one might be tempted to joke that Rodgers was in store for a green room retreat! —Jim Reineking, USA Today, 31 Mar. 2025

The first half hour is filled with the weirdly neutral techno jargon of soldiers jabbering code words into their headphones to what I (as a know-nothing) am tempted to call Mission Control. —Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 28 Mar. 2025

Then, after an unlucky streak, you can be tempted to up your bets to get back to even. —Ryan Ermey, CNBC, 27 Mar. 2025

In a good villain song, the audience gets to be tempted over to the villain’s side. —Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 25 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English tempten "to test, incite to sin, attempt," borrowed from Anglo-French tempter, temter, tenter, going back to Latin temptāre, tentāre "to feel, test, examine, attempt, make an assault on, attack" (Late Latin, "to incite to sin"), perhaps frequentative derivative from an Indo-European verbal base *temp- "stretch, extend" (hence, "grope for, feel") — more at tempo

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing tempt

• tempt fate

Rhymes for tempt

• empt
• attempt
• contempt
• exempt
• preempt
• unkempt
• nonexempt

Kids Definition

tempt

verb

ˈtem(p)t 

1

: to persuade or try to persuade to do wrong by promise of pleasure or gain

2

: to risk the dangers of

tempt fate

3

a

: to get to do something

tempted her to taste the cake

b

: to cause to have a certain feeling

was tempted to quit

temptable

ˈtem(p)-tə-bəl 

adjective

tempter noun