lure implies a drawing into danger, evil, or difficulty through attracting and deceiving.
lured naive investors with get-rich-quick schemes
entice suggests drawing by artful or adroit means.
advertising designed to entice new customers
inveigle implies enticing by cajoling or flattering.
fund-raisers inveigling wealthy alumni
decoy implies a luring into entrapment by artifice.
attempting to decoy the enemy into an ambush
tempt implies the presenting of an attraction so strong that it overcomes the restraints of conscience or better judgment.
tempted by the offer of money
seduce implies a leading astray by persuasion or false promises.
seduced by assurances of assistance
Example Sentences
He tried to seduce her. She was seduced by an older man. The other team seduced him with a better offer.
Recent Examples on the WebThe orgy stirs her passions and Daemon begins to seduce her publicly — then literally leaves her there with her pants down. Lorraine Ali, Los Angeles Times, 11 Sep. 2022 Intoxicated by the possibilities of this face, Okuyama begins to live a parallel life and eventually decides to seduce his own wife, cuckolding, and thus supplanting, himself. Robert Rubsam, The Atlantic, 19 Aug. 2022 But is that desire to win Celeste’s professional approval, to seduce her or to be her? Rory Satran, WSJ, 20 Aug. 2022 When the job goes badly, Wanda attempts to seduce George's stuffy lawyer, Archie Leach (John Cleese), to find out where George hid the diamonds. Travis Bean, Forbes, 31 July 2022 Like tropical islands everywhere, the Florida Keys seduce the visitor with the promise of a blank slate. Charles Graeber, Travel + Leisure, 6 Mar. 2021 Rachel and the guys walked in on a couple making out and eventually the pair introduced themselves as Flora and Boris, romance experts who would take the men through tasks to help them seduce Rachel. Dana Rose Falcone, PEOPLE.com, 1 Aug. 2022 The dress designed by Fannie Schiavoni was intended for Beth to lure, seduce and gather information. Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 6 June 2022 Since Ra-el can’t take down LY group by force, her plan is to seduce and destroy Yoon-kyum. Joan Macdonald, Forbes, 3 June 2022 See More
Word History
Etymology
Late Latin seducere, from Latin, to lead away, from se- apart + ducere to lead — more at tow entry 1