inveigle

verb

in·​vei·​gle in-ˈvā-gəl 

 sometimes  -ˈvē-

inveigled; inveigling in-ˈvā-g(ə-)liŋ 

 sometimes  -ˈvē-

transitive verb

1

: to win over by wiles : entice

2

: to acquire by ingenuity or flattery : wangle

inveigled her way into a promotion

inveiglement

in-ˈvā-gəl-mənt 

 sometimes  -ˈvē-

noun

inveigler

in-ˈvā-g(ə-)lər 

 sometimes  -ˈvē-

noun

Did you know?

Inveigle, a word that dates from the 16th century, refers to the act of using clever talk, trickery, or flattery either to persuade somebody to do something or to obtain something, but etymologically the word is linked to eyesight—or the lack thereof. Inveigle came to English from the Anglo-French verb enveegler, meaning "to blind or hoodwink someone," from the adjective enveugle, meaning "blind." Enveugle derives from the Medieval Latin ab oculis, a phrase which literally translates to "lacking eyes."

Choose the Right Synonym for inveigle

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 inveigle in a Sentence

She inveigled him to write the letter.

We inveigled the information from him.

Recent Examples on the Web

On hand for the séance is a thoroughly skeptical Poirot, inveigled to attend by a mystery-novelist friend, Ariadne Oliver. —Mark Feeney, BostonGlobe.com, 11 Sep. 2023

Norman Mailer tried to inveigle his dinner guests into an orgy, and not long after wrote a cruel letter to Styron, breaking off their friendship. —Marion Winik, Washington Post, 15 June 2023

At a ball where Byron was surrounded by a flock of ladies, Lamb inveigled the hostess to introduce her, and, having looked earnestly, wordlessly, into the poet’s face, Lamb immediately turned on her heel. —Clare McHugh, Washington Post, 28 May 2023

Another threat that is likely to inveigle itself into the Web3 domain is phishing. —Andrew Newman, Forbes, 4 May 2022

All of those thinly veiled efforts to inveigle an answer are met with a stock response. —New York Times, 26 Nov. 2021

To reach Peru, Dr. Koepcke had to first get to a port and inveigle his way onto a trans-Atlantic freighter. —New York Times, 18 June 2021

The two cell-surface proteins that SARS-CoV-2 uses to make contact with its target cells and inveigle its way into them would fit into this category. —The Economist, 20 Aug. 2020

And, finally, he is lost at the very end of the world when he is sent on to Edinburgh, to inveigle his way into the affections of the Scottish King James VI, poised to become the English King James I upon Elizabeth’s death. —Dominic Dromgoole, New York Times, 11 Feb. 2020

Word History

Etymology

Anglo-French enveegler, aveogler, avogler to blind, hoodwink, from avogle, enveugle blind, from Medieval Latin ab oculis, literally, lacking eyes

First Known Use

1539, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing inveigle

• inveigle one's way

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Kids Definition

inveigle

verb

in·​vei·​gle in-ˈvā-gəl 

inveigled; inveigling -g(ə-)liŋ 

1

: to win over by flattery : entice

was inveigled into helping out

2

: to acquire by cleverness or flattery : wangle

inveigled a new bike from my father

Legal Definition

inveigle

transitive verb

in·​vei·​gle in-ˈvā-gəl, -ˈvē- 

inveigled; inveigling

: to lure by false representations or other deceit

whoever unlawfully…inveigles, decoys, kidnaps, abducts, or carries away and holds for ransom or reward or otherwise any person…shall be punished by imprisonment

—U.S. Code