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tempting

/ˈtɛm(p)tɪŋ/
/ˈtɛmptɪŋ/
IPA guide

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."

Definitions of tempting
  1. adjective
    highly attractive and able to arouse hope or desire
    “a tempting invitation”
    seductive
    tending to entice into a desired action or state
  2. adjective
    very pleasantly inviting
    “a tempting repast”
    inviting
    attractive and tempting
Pronunciation
US
/ˈtɛm(p)tɪŋ/
UK
/ˈtɛmptɪŋ/
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DISCLAIMER: These example sentences appear in various news sources and books to reflect the usage of the word ‘tempting'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Vocabulary.com or its editors. Send us feedback
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