temptation

American  

[temp-tey-shuhn] / tɛmpˈteɪ ʃən /

noun

1. the act of tempting; enticement or allurement.

   Synonyms:

   inducement, seduction, pull, attraction, lure

2. something that tempts, entices, or allures.

3. the fact or state of being tempted, especially to evil.

4. an instance of this.

5. (initial capital letter) the temptation of Christ by Satan. Matthew 4.

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temptation British  

/ tɛmpˈteɪʃən /

noun

1. the act of tempting or the state of being tempted

2. a person or thing that tempts

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Other Word Forms

• nontemptation noun
• pretemptation noun
• supertemptation noun
• temptational adjective

Etymology

Origin of temptation

First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English temptacion, from Latin temptātiōn- (stem of temptātiō ) “a testing”; tempt, -ation

Example Sentences

Cast your mind back further and it was Rugby League that was the temptation.

From BBC

Now, having pocketed the sizeable prize money for winning a first-round game at the World Championship, the temptation to go into the sport full-time grows.

From BBC

"The temptation is if it's not called a 'craft fair' and it's called a 'Christmas market' there's more room to bring in work that's not necessarily made in Cornwall by a craftsperson here," she said.

From BBC

The challenge for policymakers, then, is to resist the temptation to smother AI with fear.

From The Wall Street Journal

John says that if released prisoners can get past the temptations of the first few days, adjusting to life outside, they'll have a better chance of staying out for longer.

From BBC