WordGarden.iotempter
B1Pronunciation
UK
- /tˈɛmptə/
US
- /tˈɛmptər/
Meanings
Noun
a person who tempts someone toward a desired or unwise act
the devil or Satan as one who tempts people into sin
Beyond the definition
A "tempter" is not just someone offering you a delicious cookie when you're on a diet, though it could be that simple. It refers to a person, thing, or even an inner urge that tries to draw you into doing something, often something unwise, risky, or forbidden. Think of the serpent in the Garden of Eden: that is the classic example, offering knowledge but leading to trouble. The word often suggests that the one doing the tempting knows the choice is not good for you but pushes it anyway. A slick salesperson might be called a tempter if they use pressure or charm to get a sale. It can also describe your own desire, pulling you toward indulgence, delay, or reckless behavior.
The word "tempter" refers to someone or something that tries to draw another person into wrongdoing, trouble, or some other undesirable behavior. It is often linked to moral or spiritual settings, such as the devil in religious stories, but it can appear in many other forms too. It means more than simply being attractive or appealing. It usually suggests an active push toward something that may be harmful, even if the harm is not obvious at first.
Historically, the word has strong biblical ties because of the idea of Satan as "the great tempter." Over time, though, its use has broadened. A friend might act in this role by urging you to skip work, an advertisement might do it by pushing an unnecessary purchase, and even your own inner voice can do it by urging you to procrastinate or give in to a bad habit.
The key idea is active influence. A delicious-looking cake may be tempting, but it is not actively urging you to eat it; a clever marketing campaign built to make you crave that cake is closer to what this word suggests. A tempter often works by using weakness, desire, curiosity, or need. So while temptation is the feeling of wanting something you should resist, a "tempter" is the person, force, or impulse that stirs that feeling and tries to turn it into action through pressure, persuasion, charm, or manipulation.
Examples
- 1
Fiction
In the novel, a smooth-talking tempter tries to lure the young prince away from his duty.
- 2
Religious writing
Some religious writers refer to the devil as the Tempter.
- Domainthe Tempter
a name for the devil in religious writing
- 3
Food craving
For her, the smell of fresh bread was always a powerful tempter when she was trying to diet.
See also
Similar
- enticer
- seducer
- corrupter
Shades of meaning
Contrast
Used with (collocations)
- resist the tempter
- yield to the tempter
- the Tempter
Word family
Explore
Forms and spellings
2 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- tempternoun
Forms
- tempterspluralnoun