Basic Details
Word: Tempting
Part of Speech: Adjective
Meaning: Making you want to have or do something, even when you know you should not, like a tempting plate of sweets.
Synonyms: inviting, attractive, appealing, irresistible
Antonyms: unappealing, off-putting
How to Spell Tempting
Syllables: tempt - ing
Tricky part: The p between m and t is hard to hear, so many students leave it out and write temting. Tempt keeps p and t together.
Watch out for: temting, tempeting, temptting
Memory tip: Tempt has four consonants with only an e among them: t-e-m-p-t. Say 'tem-P-t' slowly, then add ing.
Usage Examples
Example 1: A tray of hot jalebis sat on the counter, looking very tempting.
Example 2: It was tempting to skip homework and watch the match instead.
Example 3: The shopkeeper made a tempting offer: buy two, get one free.
Fun Fact
Tempt comes from the Latin temptare, which meant to test or to try something out.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Tally
How many words are misspelt in the given sentence?
The bakery window was full of tempting cakes, but Neha saved her pocket monney to buy a new libary book instead.
a) 2
b) 3
c) 1
d) 0
Show answer
a) 2. Money has one n, and library keeps the r after b.
Spell Spies
Choose the misspelt word/s in the given sentence:
The smell of fresh bread was so temting that we stopped at the bakery on our way home.
a) bakery and stopped
b) only bread
c) only temting
d) temting and bakery
Show answer
c) only temting. The quiet p is missing; tempting keeps p and t together.
Word Puzzle
Match the words with the correct options:
1. tempting 2. dreary 3. clumsy a. awkward b. inviting c. dull
a) 1-b, 2-a, 3-c
b) 1-a, 2-c, 3-b
c) 1-b, 2-c, 3-a
d) 1-c, 2-b, 3-a
Show answer
c) 1-b, 2-c, 3-a. Tempting is close to inviting, dreary to dull and clumsy to awkward.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. A tempting offer is one that ___.
a) is very boring
b) you cannot understand
c) nobody would want
d) you feel like accepting
Show answer
d) you feel like accepting
2. Which word means almost the opposite of tempting?
a) inviting
b) appealing
c) unappealing
d) attractive
Show answer
c) unappealing
