Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun A usually sexually alluring woman who repeatedly seduces or manipulates others.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun A woman who tempts or entices.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun A woman who entices.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun An alluring woman who seduces or exploits men.
  • noun A woman considered sexually attractive by men.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun a woman who is considered to be dangerously seductive

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

tempter +‎ -ess

Support

Help support Wordnik (and make this page ad-free) by adopting the word temptress.

Examples

  • Many feminists say that considering the semantic roots of the term in Indian English, eve-teasing refers to the temptress nature of Eve, placing responsibility on the woman as a tease, as though the aggressive response of the males was normal rather than criminal.

    Maheen Usmani: Pakistan's Sexual Harassment Problem Maheen Usmani 2011

  • Many feminists say that considering the semantic roots of the term in Indian English, eve-teasing refers to the temptress nature of Eve, placing responsibility on the woman as a tease, as though the aggressive response of the males was normal rather than criminal.

    Maheen Usmani: Pakistan's Sexual Harassment Problem Maheen Usmani 2011

  • Many feminists say that considering the semantic roots of the term in Indian English, eve-teasing refers to the temptress nature of Eve, placing responsibility on the woman as a tease, as though the aggressive response of the males was normal rather than criminal.

    Maheen Usmani: Pakistan's Sexual Harassment Problem Maheen Usmani 2011

  • I just put the word "temptress" through the Google Translate engine, and got this: ξεμυαλίστρα (xemyalistra).

    Conservapedia - Recent changes [en] MBack 2010

  • I just put the word "temptress" through the Google Translate engine, and got this: ξεμυαλίστρα (xemyalistra).

    Conservapedia - Recent changes [en] MBack 2010

  • The view of woman as "temptress" has early roots and is alive and well today both in the wider culture (see links below) and sadly also in Christian circles.

    Jesus Creed Scot McKnight 2010

  • I just put the word "temptress" through the Google

    Conservapedia - Recent changes [en] 2010

  • Who is the technological "temptress" in Constantin's garden of good and Apple.

    Redskins Insider Podcast -- The Washington Post 2010

  • Bruno: Erin started it very well, like a "temptress" and a "murderess", but she lost the character soon after and never recovered after that.

    All - Digital Spy - Entertainment and Media News 2010

  • Bruno: Erin started it very well, like a "temptress" and a "murderess", but she lost the character soon after and never recovered after that.

    All - Digital Spy - Entertainment and Media News 2010

Comments

Log in or sign up to get involved in the conversation. It's quick and easy.