Synonym Chooser

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 You may be tempted to stock up on certain goods before prices begin to rise. Kamaron McNair, CNBC, 3 Apr. 2025 Other attachments, from a squeegee to a garment steamer option, also add versatility though I wasn’t tempted to forego my dedicated handheld garment steamer or Windex and paper towels for them long-term. Terri Williams, Architectural Digest, 3 Apr. 2025 How to moisturize face After cleansing your skin, you may be tempted to completely dry your face off with a towel. Ariana Yaptangco, Glamour, 1 Apr. 2025 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 See All Example Sentences for tempt
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tempt
Verb
  • Westchester County’s verdant enclaves have long lured the elite.
    Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 16 Apr. 2025
  • Amenities provided by Class A offices are viewed as a key tool needed to lure employees back to the office more days of the week.
    Kate Marijolovic, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • The film is about a couple who, desperate to escape their suffocating reality, risks everything on a revolutionary dream-sharing device.
    Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 10 Apr. 2025
  • As key foreign investors and trading partners reconsider their presence, the U.S. risks losing access to critical goods, capital, and innovation.
    Hannah Parry, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • The musical’s first act opens with the Moulin Rouge on the verge of closing, unless Satine can seduce a wealthy duke into becoming its patron — but for the moment, these financial woes are hidden behind the club’s glamorous veneer.
    Emily McClanathan, Chicago Tribune, 12 Apr. 2025
  • Sherri Parlay, a good woman with a high libido, is seduced into murder by the beguiling heir to a dry-cleaning fortune.
    Sara Gran, New York Times, 24 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • One reason is that in order to entice people to buy its stock, a company needs to offer potential shareholders something in return.
    Jenny Van Leeuwen Harrington, CNBC, 8 Apr. 2025
  • Those touches are some of the reasons that entice fans to buy from brands.
    John W. Dean, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Another factor that might hamper Chelsea’s attempts to persuade Rak-Sakyi to stay is what has happened to his brother, Jesurun.
    Simon Johnson, New York Times, 20 Apr. 2025
  • The administration is expected to return to the Supreme Court quickly in an effort to persuade the justices to lift their temporary order.
    CBS News, CBS News, 19 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Sky Wee’s perspective is clear: institutional adoption, while potentially transformative, doesn’t necessarily betray Bitcoin’s core principles.
    Max (Chong) Li, Forbes.com, 15 Apr. 2025
  • But in his first public comments on President Donald Trump’s tariff war, Chinese leader Xi Jinping did not betray any concern.
    Ann Scott Tyson, Christian Science Monitor, 15 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Tempt.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tempt. Accessed 23 Apr. 2025.

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