tempting

American  

[temp-ting] / ˈtɛmp tɪŋ /

adjective

1. that tempts; enticing or inviting.

   Synonyms:

   seductive, alluring, attractive

   Antonyms:

   repellent

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tempting British  

/ ˈtɛmptɪŋ /

adjective

1. attractive or inviting

   a tempting meal

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Other Word Forms

• temptingly adverb
• temptingness noun
• untempting adjective
• untemptingly adverb

Etymology

Origin of tempting

First recorded in 1540–50; tempt + -ing ²

Explanation

Anything that's tempting makes you excited or interested, like a tempting chocolate doughnut or a tempting offer to go to the movies instead of doing your chores. An invitation or offer that intrigues you is tempting—even if it might ultimately be a bad idea. It's tempting to skip school and spend the afternoon at the beach, but it's wiser to avoid the temptation. People commonly describe food they feel is bad for them as tempting. This sense of something that's both harmful and attractive comes from the original meaning of tempt, "entice to evil or sin."

Example Sentences

Arendt had written her dissertation on St. Augustine, who held curiosity to be dangerous, often tempting one to sin because of an insatiable hunger for one sight after another.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 12, 2026

It may be tempting to write off the weakness as a ripple effect from non-traded BDCs, but concerns are warranted, the firm argued.

From Barron's • Apr. 7, 2026

You can see why the island might be a tempting prize for Beijing.

From BBC • Apr. 7, 2026

I tell this story as a word of caution, because it can be very tempting to treat spring cleaning as an opportunity to reorganize your kitchen entirely.

From Salon • Mar. 19, 2026

Dr. Barnes was a tempting target, but Cara didn’t get snippy, and she didn’t get angry.

From "The Landry News" by Andrew Clements

Related Words

• appetizing
• attractive
• enticing
• fascinating
• heavenly
• intriguing
• seductive
• tantalizing