Definitions

tempt

[tempt] / tɛmpt /

VERB

lure, entice

Synonyms

STRONGEST

appeal to attract captivate charm dare fascinate induce intrigue invite motivate persuade seduce stimulate tantalize woo

STRONG

allure bait coax court decoy draw entrap honey up hook incite influence instigate inveigle move oil promote provoke risk rouse solicit test train try wheedle whet

WEAK

butter up draw out lead on make mouth water mousetrap play up to turn one's head

Antonyms

STRONGEST

bore depress discourage disenchant dissuade hinder offend prevent repel repulse

STRONG

delight deter dishearten dull halt please reject release stop turn off

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Record-holder Anderson, 38, thought his racing days were over until Kopke approached him to tempt him out of retirement this year.

From BBC • May 22, 2026

High unemployment rates and the lack of prospects in Iraqi Kurdistan have made it easy for gangs to tempt young people to gamble everything on a journey to mainland Europe and the UK.

From BBC • May 12, 2026

To blithely swivel so much concrete out into space, and in earthquake country, seems to tempt fate.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 17, 2026

What could tempt Japanese companies to bring money back home is this year’s spectacular gains in Japanese stocks.

From Barron's • Feb. 25, 2026

They have not so much as showed me an Agulen no matter what I bring out to tempt them.

From "Ella Enchanted" by Gail Carson Levine

Vocabulary lists containing tempt

Achievement First 5th Grade IA 1 Words

Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!

Other Words for Home

Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!

Promises to Keep

Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!