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
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
An intelligent spending plan requires control and emotional management to avoid temptation and impulse buying.
—
Eugenia Last, The Mercury News, 18 Mar. 2024
Over the next 24 hours, Owen supposedly faced a series of tests and temptations involving dragons, demons and serpents.
—Lanta Davis and Vince Reighard, Smithsonian Magazine, 15 Mar. 2024
Muslims don’t just fast—they are encouraged to read the Quran, practice gratitude and compassion, avoid wrongdoings and temptations, and give to those in need.
—The Enquirer, 7 Mar. 2024
But she’s also caught up in her own disappointments and temptations, which warp the tale further.
—Deborah Treisman, The New Yorker, 4 Mar. 2024
Updatable firmware dangled an irresistible temptation for folks to start reverse engineering…
Installing many of these mods is ridiculously easy.
—IEEE Spectrum, 27 Mar. 2024
The temptation to loll like a lotus-eater on the sands is profound.
—Tony Perrottet, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Mar. 2024
Anyone who’s ever had a throbbing, swollen skin mound knows, the temptation to mess with it is strong.
—Sarah Klein, SELF, 15 Feb. 2024
No surprise the temptation to start silencing all forms of dissent.
—Eleanor Dearman, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 Feb. 2024
Eugenia Last, The Mercury News, 18 Mar. 2024
Over the next 24 hours, Owen supposedly faced a series of tests and temptations involving dragons, demons and serpents.
—Lanta Davis and Vince Reighard, Smithsonian Magazine, 15 Mar. 2024
Muslims don’t just fast—they are encouraged to read the Quran, practice gratitude and compassion, avoid wrongdoings and temptations, and give to those in need.
—The Enquirer, 7 Mar. 2024
But she’s also caught up in her own disappointments and temptations, which warp the tale further.
—Deborah Treisman, The New Yorker, 4 Mar. 2024
Updatable firmware dangled an irresistible temptation for folks to start reverse engineering…
Installing many of these mods is ridiculously easy.
—IEEE Spectrum, 27 Mar. 2024
The temptation to loll like a lotus-eater on the sands is profound.
—Tony Perrottet, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Mar. 2024
Anyone who’s ever had a throbbing, swollen skin mound knows, the temptation to mess with it is strong.
—Sarah Klein, SELF, 15 Feb. 2024
No surprise the temptation to start silencing all forms of dissent.
—Eleanor Dearman, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 Feb. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'temptation.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near temptation
Cite this Entry
“Temptation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/temptation. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids 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
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