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View synonyms for

tempt

[ tempt ]

verb (used with object)

  1. to entice or allure to do something often regarded as unwise, wrong, or immoral.
  2. to attract, appeal strongly to, or invite:

    The offer tempts me.

    Synonyms: , , , ,

  3. to render strongly disposed to do something:

    The book tempted me to read more on the subject.

  4. to put (someone) to the test in a venturesome way; provoke:

    to tempt one's fate.

  5. Obsolete. to try or test.


tempt

/ ɛ /

verb

  1. to attempt to persuade or entice to do something, esp something morally wrong or unwise
  2. to allure, invite, or attract
  3. to give rise to a desire in (someone) to do something; dispose

    their unfriendliness tempted me to leave the party

  4. to risk provoking (esp in the phrase tempt fate )
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Derived Forms

  • ˈٱ𳾱ٲ, adjective
  • ˈٱ𳾱ٱ, noun
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Other Word Forms

  • ٱ𳾱a· adjective
  • ·ٱ𳾱 verb (used with object)
  • -ٱ𳾱Ļ adjective
  • p·ٱ𳾱 verb (used with object)
  • un·ٱ𳾱a· adjective
  • ܲ·ٱ𳾱Ļ adjective
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Word History and Origins

Origin of tempt1

First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English from Latin ٱ𳾱 “to probe, feel, test, tempt”
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Word History and Origins

Origin of tempt1

C13: from Old French tempter, from Latin ٱ𳾱 to test
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Synonym Study

Tempt, seduce may both mean to allure or entice to something unwise or wicked. To tempt is to attract by holding out the probability of gratification or advantage, often in the direction of that which is wrong or unwise: to tempt a man with a bribe. To seduce is literally to lead astray, sometimes from that which absorbs one or demands attention, but oftener, in a moral sense, from rectitude, chastity, etc.: to seduce a person away from loyalty.
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Offensive line is tempting here, but the Texans also need to get C.J.

From

She added that the party could only tempt voters back with a "visibly centre-right, authentic Conservative offer".

From

Still, the KGB was watching, and Miller, shambling, bitter and broke, made a tempting target.

From

It can be tempting to prioritize our joy, and for many people, that joy translates to indulging in the “Harry Potter” fandom.

From

It’s tempting to think of Donald Trump’s second term as a sui generis reign of lawlessness.

From

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