entice

verb

en·​tice in-ˈtīs 

en-

enticed; enticing

transitive verb

: to attract artfully or adroitly or by arousing hope or desire : tempt

enticement

in-ˈtī-smənt 

en-

noun

Synonyms

• allure
• bait
• beguile
• betray
• decoy
• lead on
• lure
• seduce
• solicit
• tempt

Choose the Right Synonym for entice

lure, entice, inveigle, decoy, tempt, seduce mean to lead astray from one's true course.

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

Examples of entice in a Sentence

every commercial seemed to be for some tempting snack specifically designed to entice me from my diet

Recent Examples on the Web

In previous years, even large tech players like YouTube would entice ad buyers during the NewFronts, a separate event for digital outlets created during the early days of online video. —Dade Hayes, Deadline, 29 Oct. 2024

Such a move may entice existing investors to sell the stocks, if the tax policy change likely impacts them. —Ganesh Rao, CNBC, 29 Oct. 2024

This clause contains an anti-tampering provision which forbids any attempt to entice, induce or persuade a person who is under contract with another team to join the tampering team. —Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 27 Oct. 2024

The program was founded in 2018 with the goal of enticing knowledge workers to a budding metropolitan that could no longer be as reliant on the volatile gas and oil industries that represented a boom for Tulsa in the twentieth century, according to Tulsa Remote managing director Justin Harlan. —Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 24 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French enticer, from Vulgar Latin *intitiare, from Latin in- + titio firebrand

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

entice

verb

en·​tice in-ˈtīs 

enticed; enticing

: to attract by arousing hope or desire : tempt

enticement

-mənt 

noun

enticingly

-iŋ-lē 

adverb