What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
entice
Example
The smell of freshly baked cookies enticed me into the bakery. [entice: verb]
Example
The company offered a bonus to entice employees to work overtime. [entice: verb]
Example
The salesman tried to entice the customer with a special discount. [entice: verb]
tempt
Example
The devil tempted Eve to eat the forbidden fruit. [tempt: verb]
Example
I'm trying to diet, but the smell of pizza is tempting me. [tempting: gerund or present participle]
Example
The job offer was too good to resist, and it tempted him to leave his current position. [tempt: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Tempt is more commonly used than entice in everyday language, especially in discussions of morality or ethics. Entice is more commonly used in marketing or advertising contexts.
Whatโs the difference in the tone of formality between entice and tempt?
Both entice and tempt can be used in formal or informal contexts, but entice may be perceived as slightly more formal due to its association with marketing or advertising language.
