temptation
Siren call within
Temptation is the pull toward something appealing but forbidden, unwise, or morally questionable.
The word carries religious weight from biblical usage—Christ's temptation in the wilderness, the temptation of Eve.
But everyday temptations are usually minor: The chocolate cake was too much temptation to resist.
A temptation is also the thing that tempts: Fresh donuts are my greatest temptation.
Cunning, limbless reptile
Satan · devil · original sin · fall · paradise · Genesis · garden · forbidden fruit
Enjoyment tinged with shame
- splurgeSpend freely, impulsively
- treatSomething pleasantly special
- decadenceMoral decline through excess
- luxuryExpensive nonessential comfort
excess · binge · hedonism · gratification · self-indulgence · overindulgence · feasting · gluttony
Cultural or social prohibition
- off-limitsProhibited from access
- illicitProhibited by law
- prohibitedOfficially not permitted
- verbotenProhibited by authority
banned · transgression · contraband · restricted · unlawful · forbidden fruit · secret · hidden
Powerful urge to have
- longingIntense, persistent desire
- yearningIntense prolonged craving
- urgeStrong inner drive
- lustIntense carnal appetite
appetite · hunger · want · thirst · passion · covetousness · obsession · infatuation
Enticing someone romantically
- enticementSomething that attracts
- lureThing that tempts
- attractionPull toward something
- appealFormal review request
charm · fascination · magnetism · siren call · draw · pull · invitation · captivation
Bad habit or deputy
- guiltMoral self-reproach
- transgressionViolation of law or code
- corruptionDishonest abuse of power
- immoralityQuality of being wicked
wickedness · depravity · iniquity · damnation · penance · repentance · redemption · fallen
Mental strength resisting impulse
- self-controlAbility to restrain impulses
- resistanceCapacity to withstand force
- disciplineTrained self-control or specialty
- struggleLabored effort against resistance
restraint · abstinence · virtue · conscience · integrity · weakness · yielding · succumbing
serpent
Cunning, limbless reptile
apple · Satan · devil · original sin · fall · paradise · Genesis · garden · forbidden fruit · wilderness
guilty pleasure
Enjoyment tinged with shame
- splurgeSpend freely, impulsively
- treatSomething pleasantly special
- decadenceMoral decline through excess
luxury · excess · binge · hedonism · gratification · self-indulgence · overindulgence · feasting · gluttony · pleasure
taboo
Cultural or social prohibition
- off-limitsProhibited from access
- illicitProhibited by law
- prohibitedOfficially not permitted
verboten · banned · transgression · contraband · restricted · unlawful · forbidden fruit · secret · hidden · sinful
craving
Powerful urge to have
lust · appetite · hunger · want · thirst · passion · covetousness · obsession · infatuation · pining
seduction
Enticing someone romantically
- enticementSomething that attracts
- lureThing that tempts
- attractionPull toward something
appeal · charm · fascination · magnetism · siren call · draw · pull · invitation · captivation · bewitchment
vice
Bad habit or deputy
- guiltMoral self-reproach
- transgressionViolation of law or code
- corruptionDishonest abuse of power
immorality · wickedness · depravity · iniquity · damnation · penance · repentance · redemption · fallen · hellfire
willpower
Mental strength resisting impulse
- self-controlAbility to restrain impulses
- resistanceCapacity to withstand force
- disciplineTrained self-control or specialty
struggle · restraint · abstinence · virtue · conscience · integrity · weakness · yielding · succumbing · resolve
- BiblicalAdam, Eve, Moses, Noah, David
- drama themesrevenge, betrayal, forbidden love, love triangle, family conflict
- enticementsenticement, inducement, lure, allure, bait
- wantingwant, desire, crave, yearn, long
- appealappeal, allure, attraction, attractiveness, charm
- indulgencesindulgence, indulgences, chocolate cake, overindulgence, massage
temptationrepulsion
Disgust or pushing-away force
deterrent · discouragement · dissuasion · warning · repellent
temptationvirtue
Moral goodness or merit
righteousness · self-control · moral strength · conscience · moral guidance
- The Temptations
- temptation of ChristSatan's desert testing of Jesus
- temptation of JesusDevil's desert challenge
- Temptation IslandDating competition reality series