Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
Showing results for tempting. Search instead for temping.
Synonyms

tempting

American  
[temp-ting] / ˈtɛmp tɪŋ /

adjective

  1. that tempts; enticing or inviting.

    Synonyms:
    seductive, alluring, attractive
    Antonyms:
    repellent
tempting British  
/ ˈtɛmptɪŋ /

adjective

  1. attractive or inviting

    a tempting meal
"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

Other Word Forms

  • temptingly adverb
  • temptingness noun
  • untempting adjective
  • untemptingly adverb

Etymology

Origin of tempting

First recorded in 1540–50; tempt + -ing 2

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.

It isn’t—and it’s tempting to add: Praise be!

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 31, 2026

I tell this story as a word of caution, because it can be very tempting to treat spring cleaning as an opportunity to reorganize your kitchen entirely.

From Salon • Mar. 19, 2026

It can be tempting to throw caution to the wind if you really want something and have already imagined yourself hanging out with your relatives, but sometimes the easiest thing is to say no.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 18, 2026

For TV producers, it's long been tempting to invite two self-righteous zealots into a studio to bellow at each other.

From BBC • Mar. 7, 2026

The idea of taking a break even for a few days was really tempting.

From "The Last Olympian" by Rick Riordan

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.