If you feel you want to do something or have something, even though you know you really should avoid it, you can refer to this feeling as temptation. You can also refer to the thing you want to do or have as a temptation.
Will they be able to resist the temptation to buy?
...the many temptations to which you will be exposed.
Synonyms: urge, desire, impulse, inclination More Synonyms of temptation
More Synonyms of temptation
temptation in British English
(tɛmpˈteɪʃən)
noun
1.
the act of tempting or the state of being tempted
2.
a person or thing that tempts
temptation in American English
(tɛmpˈteɪʃən)
noun
1.
a tempting or being tempted
2.
something that tempts; enticement
Word origin
OFr < LL(Ec) temptatio < L, an attack, trial
Examples of 'temptation' in a sentence
temptation
Resist the temptation to push him away.
The Sun (2016)
Resist the temptation to open the oven door again until the cooking time is up.
The Sun (2016)
But she resists any temptation to call a spring election to boost her majority.
The Sun (2016)
And resist the temptation to compare yourself with your friends.
The Sun (2016)
Your gift choices are inspired, so resist the temptation to change your mind.
The Sun (2016)
The British should maintain a businesslike relationship and resist the temptation to be arrogant.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Alternatively, there are online budgeting tools that help resist the temptation to spend.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
I resist the temptation to go too crazy or bling.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The internet does present great temptations but if he shows no remorse and won't be honest with you, you stand no chance of rebuilding your relationship.
The Sun (2016)
You have been too great a temptation.
Frances Hodgson Burnett Emily Fox-Seton (1901)
Lots of us feel the temptation to stray.
The Sun (2013)
How can one small town boast so many scandalous temptations?
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
You must avoid the temptation to do this while handling electrical appliances.
Mumby, Keith The Allergy Handbook (1988)
Which of them get that chance will depend on which side can resist that temptation.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
We know the alluring seduction of temptation.
Christianity Today (2000)
There is a great temptation to work through the lunch hour.
Munro, Bill Dr. & Munro, Frances Beat Stress (1992)
French mothers absolutely recognise the temptation to feel guilty.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Then cut up your old cards to avoid the temptation of spending more.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
We should always resist the temptation to claim more for sport than it deserves.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
The internet presents great temptations and he sounds genuinely sorry.
The Sun (2013)
She also sleeps in her clothes to avoid the temptation if she wakes at night.
The Sun (2013)
But with great rewards came great temptation.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Remove your name from any catalogue lists and stay away from online sales to avoid temptation.
The Sun (2016)
Please resist the temptation to take any yourself.
The Sun (2016)
But there are so many temptations.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
There were too many temptations to plunder, and little to stop it.
Jack Turner SPICE: The History of a Temptation (2004)
Quotations
The best way to get the better of temptation is to yield to itClementina Stirling GrahamMystifications
I can resist everything except temptationOscar WildeLady Windermere's Fan
No temptation can ever be measured by the value of its objectColette
The serpent beguiled me, and I did eatBible: Genesis
Get thee behind me, SatanBible: St. Matthew
Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation; the spirit indeed is willing but the flesh is weakBible: St. Matthew
The last temptation is the greatest treason: To do the right deed for the wrong reasonT.S. EliotMurder in the Cathedral
In other languages
temptation
British English: temptation /tɛmpˈteɪʃən/ NOUN
Temptation is the state you are in when you want to do or have something, although you know it might be wrong or harmful.
Will they be able to resist the temptation to buy?
American English: temptation
Arabic: إِغْرَاء
Brazilian Portuguese: tentação
Chinese: 诱惑
Croatian: iskušenje
Czech: pokušení
Danish: fristelse
Dutch: verleiding
European Spanish: tentación
Finnish: kiusaus
French: tentation
German: Versuchung
Greek: πειρασμός
Italian: tentazione
Japanese: 誘惑
Korean: 유혹
Norwegian: fristelse
Polish: pokusa
European Portuguese: tentação
Romanian: tentație
Russian: искушение
Latin American Spanish: tentación
Swedish: frestelse
Thai: การล่อใจ
Turkish: ayartma
Ukrainian: спокуса
Vietnamese: sự cám dỗ
Chinese translation of 'temptation'
temptation
(tɛmpˈteɪʃən)
n(c/u)
诱(誘)惑 (yòuhuò) (种(種), zhǒng)
1 (noun)
Definition
a person or thing that tempts
the many temptations to which they will be exposed
Synonyms
enticement
The cash bonus is an added enticement for the bank's customers.
lure
The lure of rural life is proving as strong as ever.
inducement
They offer every inducement to encourage investment.
pull
No matter how much you feel the pull of the past, try to look to the future.
come-on (informal)
invitation
Don't leave your bag there – it's an invitation to a thief.
bait
bait to attract audiences for advertisements
coaxing
snare
seduction
The seduction of the show is the fact that the kids are in it.
decoy
He acted as a decoy to draw the dogs' attention away from the children.
allurement
tantalization
2 (noun)
Definition
the act of tempting or the state of being tempted
Will they be able to resist the temptation to buy?
Synonyms
urge
He had an urge to open a shop of his own.
desire
I had a strong desire to help and care for people.
impulse
I resisted an impulse to smile.
inclination
He had neither the time nor the inclination to think about it.
itch
an insatiable itch to switch from channel to channel
3 (noun)
The thrill and the temptation of trespassing is very strong.
Synonyms
appeal
It was meant to give the party greater public appeal.
draw (informal)
The draw of India lies in its beauty.
attraction
It was never a physical attraction, just a meeting of minds.
attractiveness
The forest enhances the attractiveness of the region.
Quotations
The best way to get the better of temptation is to yield to it [Clementina Stirling Graham – Mystifications]I can resist everything except temptation [Oscar Wilde – Lady Windermere's Fan]No temptation can ever be measured by the value of its object [Colette]The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat [Bible: Genesis]Get thee behind me, Satan [Bible: St. Matthew]Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation; the spirit indeed is willing but the flesh is weak [Bible: St. Matthew]The last temptation is the greatest treason: To do the right deed for the wrong reason [T.S. Eliot – Murder in the Cathedral]
Additional synonyms
in the sense of attraction
Definition
an interesting or desirable feature
It was never a physical attraction, just a meeting of minds.
Synonyms
appeal,
interest,
draw,
pull (informal),
come-on (informal),
charm,
incentive,
invitation,
lure,
bait,
temptation,
fascination,
attractiveness,
allure,
inducement,
magnetism,
enchantment,
endearment,
enticement,
captivation,
temptingness,
pleasingness
in the sense of attractiveness
The forest enhances the attractiveness of the region.
Synonyms
appeal,
magnetism,
pleasantness,
agreeableness,
agreeability,
enticingness,
pleasingness
in the sense of bait
Definition
an enticement
bait to attract audiences for advertisements
Synonyms
lure,
attraction,
incentive,
carrot (informal),
temptation,
bribe,
magnet,
snare,
inducement,
decoy,
carrot and stick,
honeypot,
enticement,
allurement
Synonyms of 'temptation'
temptation
Explore 'temptation' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of decoy
Definition
an image of a bird or animal, used to lure game into a trap or within shooting range
He acted as a decoy to draw the dogs' attention away from the children.
Synonyms
lure,
attraction,
bait,
trap,
inducement,
enticement,
ensnarement
in the sense of desire
Definition
a wish or longing
I had a strong desire to help and care for people.
Synonyms
wish,
want,
longing,
need,
hope,
urge,
yen (informal),
hunger,
appetite,
aspiration,
ache,
craving,
yearning,
inclination,
thirst,
hankering
in the sense of draw
Definition
a person, place, show, or event that attracts a large audience
The draw of India lies in its beauty.
Synonyms
appeal,
interest,
pull (informal),
charm,
attraction,
lure,
temptation,
fascination,
attractiveness,
allure,
magnetism,
enchantment,
enticement,
captivation,
temptingness
in the sense of impulse
Definition
an instinctive drive
I resisted an impulse to smile.
Synonyms
urge,
longing,
desire,
drive,
wish,
fancy,
notion,
yen (informal),
instinct,
yearning,
inclination,
itch,
whim,
compulsion,
caprice
in the sense of inclination
Definition
a liking, tendency, or preference
He had neither the time nor the inclination to think about it.
Synonyms
desire,
longing,
wish,
need,
aspiration,
craving,
yearning,
hankering
in the sense of inducement
Definition
something that encourages someone to do something
They offer every inducement to encourage investment.
Synonyms
incentive,
motive,
cause,
influence,
reward,
come-on (informal),
spur,
consideration,
attraction,
lure,
bait,
carrot (informal),
encouragement,
impulse,
stimulus,
incitement,
clarion call
in the sense of invitation
Don't leave your bag there – it's an invitation to a thief.
Synonyms
inducement,
come-on (informal),
temptation,
challenge,
provocation,
open door,
overture,
incitement,
enticement,
allurement
in the sense of itch
Definition
a restless desire
an insatiable itch to switch from channel to channel
Synonyms
desire,
longing,
craving,
passion,
yen (informal),
hunger,
lust,
yearning,
hankering,
restlessness
in the sense of lure
Definition
a person or thing that lures
The lure of rural life is proving as strong as ever.
Synonyms
temptation,
attraction,
incentive,
bait,
carrot (informal),
magnet,
inducement,
decoy,
enticement,
siren song,
allurement
in the sense of pull
Definition
the power to attract attention or support
No matter how much you feel the pull of the past, try to look to the future.
Synonyms
attraction,
appeal,
lure,
fascination,
force,
draw (informal),
influence,
magnetism,
enchantment,
drawing power,
enticement,
allurement
Additional synonyms
in the sense of seduction
The seduction of the show is the fact that the kids are in it.