tempt Hear it!

tempt Definition

tempt (tempt)

transitive verb

  1. Archaic to test; try
  2. to try to persuade; induce or entice, esp. to something immoral or sensually pleasurable
  3. to rouse desire in; be inviting to; attract
  4. to provoke or run the risk of provoking (fate, etc.)
  5. to incline strongly to be tempted to accept

Etymology: ME tempten < OFr tempter < LL(Ec) temptare < L, to try the strength of, urge < IE *temp-: see temper

tempt Related Forms
tempt′·able adjective
tempt Synonyms

tempt

v.

lure, entice, fascinate, seduce, appeal to, inveigle, decoy, beguile, induce, intrigue, incite, provoke, allure, charm, captivate, tantalize, draw on, invite, bait, stimulate, move, motivate, rouse, instigate, wheedle, coax, lead on*, make one's mouth water*; see also fascinate, influence, seduce.

Antonyms discourage*, repel, dissuade.

tempt suggests the influence of a powerful attraction that tends to overcome scruples or judgment I'm tempted to accept your offer; lure suggests an irresistible force, as desire, greed, or curiosity, in attracting someone, often to something harmful or evil lured on by false hopes; entice implies a crafty or skillful attracting by offering hope of reward or pleasure he enticed the squirrel to eat from his hand; inveigle suggests the use of deception or cajolery in enticing someone they inveigled him with false promises; decoy implies the use of deceptive appearances in luring into a trap artificial birds are used to decoy wild ducks; beguile suggests the use of subtly alluring devices in leading someone on beguiled by her sweet words; seduce implies enticement to an improper or wrongful act, esp. to loss of chastity

tempt Usage Examples

Object

  • fate: The owners had never tempted fate by preparing an annual budget.
  • palate: Pasta is a versatile food and can make hearty suppers or light dishes to tempt the palate.
  • thief: Don't tempt thieves by leaving property on display.
  • shopper: A wide range of stalls from many Cheltenham based charities will set out their wares to tempt shoppers throughout the day.
  • buyer: Many films came out complete with soundtrack CD or a book to tempt buyers.
  • traveler: And if this isn't enough to tempt the adventurous traveler then 1,000 km off the coast lie the world famous Galapagos Islands.

Subject

  • devil: After Jesus ' Baptism he was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil.
  • Satan: He obeyed its moral law when tempted by Satan.
  • prospect: Some people were also tempted by the prospect of a semi night dive off Chesil beach.

Modifying Another Word

  • sorely: One feels sorely tempted never to go back to a standard micro again!

Infinitive complement

  • indulge: That way I keep hydrated and don't get tempted to indulge in cans of coke.
  • conclude: One may be tempted to conclude from this that James is postulating a non-theistic interpretation of God however this far from the case.
  • dismiss: But if you're tempted to dismiss his work for that, you'd be making a mistake.
  • stray: Each one of the lead gypsy girls was quite terrific and it was easy to understand why the young painter was tempted to stray.
  • try: Don't be tempted to try to get into the underweight category.
  • cheat: QUIZ ANSWERS They're printed rather faint in case you are tempted to cheat!

Preposition: in

  • desert: In fact, when Jesus was tempted in the desert by Satan himself, he immediately recognized his identity and resisted and rebuked him.

Preposition: by

  • devil: After Jesus ' Baptism he was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil.
  • Satan: He obeyed its moral law when tempted by Satan.
  • prospect: Some people were also tempted by the prospect of a semi night dive off Chesil beach.
tempt Quotes

Jesus said unto him, It is written again,Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.

—Bible (NewTestament)

Tempt me no more; for I Have known the lightning's hour, The poet's inward pride, The certainty of power.

—Day-Lewis, Cecil