tempting

1 of 2

adjective

tempt·​ing ˈtem(p)-tiŋ How to pronounce tempting (audio)
Synonyms of temptingnext
: having an appeal : enticing entry 1
a tempting offer
temptingly adverb

tempting

2 of 2

present participle of tempt

Examples of tempting in a Sentence

Adjective The desserts look very tempting. It is tempting to think of him as the next American president.
Recent Examples on the Web
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Adjective
The look keeps popping up on social media, and the pitch is tempting. — Ashley Lynch, Miami Herald, 21 Oct. 2026 And while a blue ribbon sewn into a wedding dress might satisfy the superstition, a sapphire or aquamarine is considerably more tempting. — Lilah Ramzi, Vogue, 15 Oct. 2026 The scoring potential in this game may be tempting, but Loveland is difficult to trust until his role becomes more consistent. — Jonathan Rubin, Charlotte Observer, 14 Oct. 2026 There's another tempting reason to watch the Taurids in 2026 — moonlight will cause little interference around the main peaks. — Jamie Carter, Space.com, 12 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for tempting

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

from present participle of tempt

First Known Use

Adjective

1588, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of tempting was in 1588

Rhymes for tempting

See All Rhymes for tempting

Browse Nearby Words

tempt fate
tempting
temptress
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Tempting.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tempting. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

tempting

adjective
tempt·​ing ˈtem(p)-tiŋ How to pronounce tempting (audio)
: having a strong attraction
the food all looked tempting
temptingly adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on tempting

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for tempting

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