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temptingly

B1
Rare

Pronunciation

UK

  • /tˈɛmptɪŋli/

US

  • /tˈɛmptɪŋli/

Meanings

Adverb

  1. in a way that makes something seem appealing or hard to resist

Beyond the definition

Something described as temptingly looks, smells, or seems so appealing that it is hard to resist. Think of the smell of freshly baked cookies in the air: warm, sweet, and inviting. The word often suggests a strong pull toward something pleasant, especially when giving in may not be the best idea. A shop window full of beautiful clothes might be temptingly arranged, making you want to step inside. It is usually used for things people genuinely want, such as food, comfort, beauty, money, or an exciting chance.

Examples

  1. 1

    Food appeal

    Fresh bread was stacked on the shelf, still warm and temptingly crisp.

  2. 2

    Prices

    The flights looked temptingly cheap, so we almost booked them that night.

  3. 3

    Generous offer

    Her offer was temptingly generous, but I wanted more time to think.

  4. 4

    Risky shortcut

    The shortcut seemed temptingly simple, yet it would have caused bigger problems later.

More examples
  1. 5

    Near success

    We came temptingly close to catching the last train.

    • Patterntemptingly close to + goal

      so close that it makes you want or hope for it even more

See also

Similar

Shades of meaning

Contrast

  • unappealingly
  • repulsively

Used with (collocations)

  • temptingly close
  • temptingly delicious
  • temptingly low price

Word family

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Forms and spellings

1 form open this card.

Main spelling

  • temptinglyadverb