Tempting — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective noun verb /ˈtem(p)-tiŋ/ tempt·ing

Meaning & Definition of Tempting

Tempting (adjective)

  1. having an appeal, enticing

Tempting (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. as in tantalizing, enticing

    similar: enticing, tantalizing, absorbing, arresting, engrossing, enthralling, galvanic, gripping, hypnotic, hypnotizing, mesmerizing, riveting, spellbinding, alluring, appealing, attractive, bewitching, captivating, charismatic, charming, elfin, enchanting, engaging, entrancing, fascinating, fetching, glamorous, luring, magnetic, seductive, exciting, interesting, intriguing, titillating, beckoning, inviting, winning
    opposite: boring, irksome, tedious, tiresome, wearisome, abhorrent, abominable, appalling, awful, distasteful, hideous, horrendous, horrible, horrid, invidious, loathsome, nauseating, noisome, obnoxious, odious, offensive, shocking, sickening, drab, dreary, dull, flat, humdrum, jading, leaden, monotonous, pedestrian, ponderous, repellent, repelling, repugnant, repulsive, revolting, unalluring

Tempting (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. as in seduction

    similar: seduction, blandishment, cajolement, cajolery, coaxing, entreaty, exhortation, urging, wheedling, influencing, prompting, swaying, conversion, convincing, inducement, inducing, persuading, persuasion, suasion, lobbying, pressuring, brainwashing, overpersuasion

Tempting (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to lead away from a usual or proper course by offering some pleasure or advantage

    "that chocolate dessert sure tempts me, but I should stick with my diet"

    similar: alluring, baiting, beguiling, betraying, decoying, enticing, leading on, luring, seducing, soliciting
    related: drawing in, inveigling, persuading, roping (in), snowing, catching, enmeshing, ensnaring, entrapping, meshing, snaring, tangling, trapping, bewitching, captivating, charming, enchanting, fascinating, magnetizing, wiling
    near: alerting, cautioning, forewarning, warding (off), warning, driving (away or off), repulsing, turning away

  2. to take a chance on

    "refusing to lay in enough food for the long winter tempts the dangers of starvation"

    similar: adventuring, chancing, gambling (on), hazarding, risking, venturing, running the risk of
    related: bearding, braving, brazening, breasting, challenging, confronting, daring, defying, facing, outbraving, compromising, endangering, imperiling, jeopardizing, menacing, exposing, subjecting, betting (on), wagering

Related Entry: Tempt (verb)

Tempt is a different word from Tempting. The synonyms below are for tempt, not for tempting.

  1. to lead away from a usual or proper course by offering some pleasure or advantage

    "that chocolate dessert sure tempts me, but I should stick with my diet"

    similar: allure, bait, beguile, betray, decoy, entice, lead on, lure, seduce, solicit
    related: draw in, inveigle, persuade, rope (in), snow, catch, enmesh, ensnare, entrap, mesh, snare, tangle, trap, bewitch, captivate, charm, enchant, fascinate, magnetize, wile
    near: alert, caution, forewarn, ward (off), warn, drive (away or off), repulse, turn away

  2. to take a chance on

    "refusing to lay in enough food for the long winter tempts the dangers of starvation"

    similar: adventure, chance, gamble (on), hazard, risk, venture, run the risk of
    related: beard, brave, brazen, breast, challenge, confront, dare, defy, face, outbrave, compromise, endanger, imperil, jeopardize, menace, expose, subject, bet (on), wager

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Tempting

The most common words with a similar meaning to Tempting:

enticing, tantalizing, absorbing, arresting, engrossing, enthralling, galvanic, gripping, hypnotic, hypnotizing, mesmerizing, riveting, spellbinding, alluring, appealing, attractive, bewitching, captivating, charismatic, charming, elfin, enchanting, engaging, entrancing, fascinating, fetching, glamorous, luring, magnetic, seductive, exciting, interesting, intriguing, titillating, beckoning, inviting, winning, seduction, blandishment, cajolement

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Tempting

Words with the opposite meaning of Tempting:

boring, irksome, tedious, tiresome, wearisome, abhorrent, abominable, appalling, awful, distasteful, hideous, horrendous, horrible, horrid, invidious, loathsome, nauseating, noisome, obnoxious, odious, offensive, shocking, sickening, drab, dreary, dull, flat, humdrum, jading, leaden

Related Words for Tempting

drawing in, inveigling, roping (in), snowing, catching, enmeshing, ensnaring, entrapping, meshing, snaring, tangling, trapping, magnetizing, wiling, bearding, braving, brazening, breasting, challenging, confronting, daring, defying, facing, outbraving, compromising, endangering, imperiling, jeopardizing, menacing, exposing

Near Antonyms of Tempting

alerting, cautioning, forewarning, warding (off), warning, driving (away or off), repulsing, turning away

Word Forms of Tempting

Derived words: temptingly (adverb)

Origin & Etymology of Tempting

from present participle of tempt

First known use: 1588

Frequently Asked Questions about Tempting

What does "Tempting" mean?

"Tempting" means having an appeal, enticing. As an an adjective, a noun and a verb, it is defined as: having an appeal, enticing. It has 4 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Tempting"?

Other words for "Tempting" include enticing, tantalizing, absorbing, arresting, engrossing, enthralling, galvanic and gripping. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Tempting" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Tempting"?

There are 107 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Tempting". Common alternatives include enticing, tantalizing, absorbing, arresting, engrossing, enthralling, galvanic, gripping, hypnotic and hypnotizing.

What is the opposite of "Tempting"?

Antonyms of "Tempting" include boring, irksome, tedious, tiresome, wearisome, abhorrent, abominable and appalling. Near antonyms include alerting, cautioning, forewarning and warding (off).

How do you use "Tempting" in a sentence?

Examples of "Tempting" in a sentence: "that chocolate dessert sure tempts me, but I should stick with my diet"; "refusing to lay in enough food for the long winter tempts the dangers of starvation".

Is "Tempting" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Tempting" can be used as an adjective, a noun and a verb, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Tempting"?

"Tempting" is pronounced /ˈtem(p)-tiŋ/ and divided into syllables as tempt·ing.

What is the origin of the word "Tempting"?

"Tempting" comes from from present participle of tempt. First known use: 1588.