temptation

[ temp-tey-shuhn ]

noun

1. the act of tempting; enticement or allurement.

   Synonyms: inducement, seduction, pull, attraction, lure

2. something that tempts, entices, or allures.
3. the fact or state of being tempted, especially to evil.
4. an instance of this.
5. (initial capital letter) the temptation of Christ by Satan. Matthew 4.

temptation

/ tɛmpˈteɪʃən /

noun

1. the act of tempting or the state of being tempted
2. a person or thing that tempts

Other Words From

• temp·tation·al adjective
• nontemp·tation noun
• pretemp·tation noun
• super·temp·tation noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of temptation¹

First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English temptacion, from Latin temptātiōn- (stem of temptātiō ) “a testing”; tempt, -ation

Example Sentences

So, if you can overcome the temptation to think of the wave-function as a real object, there is nothing funny going on here.

From Nautilus

I think dating apps make it incredibly difficult to have real, stable, substantive relationships, because there’s so much temptation.

From Ozy

It’s difficult to know what the long run holds, because when you let people loose, there’s a lot of temptation to go too far.

From MIT Technology Review

You wait for the lights to change, resisting the temptation to look over your shoulder.

From MIT Technology Review

It can be hard to resist the temptation to send messages or check my email.

From Science News For Students

For one thing, they seldom had it, and for another thing they all believed that having it would set up a temptation to spend it.

From The Daily Beast

That makes for unparalleled wines, but also for the dangerous temptation to label every variety as unique.

From The Daily Beast

But that temptation should be avoided, in the interest of basic honesty.

From The Daily Beast

Pelosi is one of many politicians who have given in to the temptation of being pictured alongside a cartoon character or Muppet.

From The Daily Beast

Although my temptation is to balk like a sitcom father—“Whaddya mean these guys are famous for Tweeting?!”

From The Daily Beast

The temptation to pour his financial troubles into the sympathetic ears of these two dear women he resisted.

From Project Gutenberg

The young wheat, however, is still a temptation, and is accordingly punished by the Sparrows.

From Project Gutenberg

But to a Knight of Industry, as he knew the Count to be, a certain thousand pounds would be a great temptation.

From Project Gutenberg

He has a will to resist temptation, but though he may clear a small temptation, he may fall at a large one.

From Project Gutenberg

It was within an hour of midnight, and the weather being dark and piercing cold, he had no great temptation to loiter.

From Project Gutenberg