- present participle of tempt.
tempting
Americanadjective
adjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of tempting
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
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
While those price targets look tempting, copper also seems vulnerable to a correction over the near term.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 7, 2026
It’s a tempting comparison to make, but you’re not comparing apples to apples.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 5, 2026
It’s tempting to treat this episode as merely humorous.
From Salon ● Oct. 1, 2026
He opens “Digger” lounging in a bed soaked with cat pee, tempting an elderly feline named Maggie to lick wet chow from his gnarled pinkie nail.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 29, 2026
It would be tempting fate; it would be romance, bad luck.
From "The Handmaid's Tale" by Margaret Atwood
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
