entice

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb entice differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of entice are decoy, inveigle, lure, seduce, and tempt. While all these words mean "to lead astray from one's true course," entice suggests drawing by artful or adroit means.

advertising designed to entice new customers

When is it sensible to use decoy instead of entice?

While the synonyms decoy and entice are close in meaning, decoy implies a luring into entrapment by artifice.

attempting to decoy the enemy into an ambush

Where would inveigle be a reasonable alternative to entice?

The words inveigle and entice can be used in similar contexts, but inveigle implies enticing by cajoling or flattering.

fund-raisers inveigling wealthy alumni

In what contexts can lure take the place of entice?

Although the words lure and entice have much in common, lure implies a drawing into danger, evil, or difficulty through attracting and deceiving.

lured naive investors with get-rich-quick schemes

When could seduce be used to replace entice?

The meanings of seduce and entice largely overlap; however, seduce implies a leading astray by persuasion or false promises.

seduced by assurances of assistance

When would tempt be a good substitute for entice?

In some situations, the words tempt and entice are roughly equivalent. However, 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

Examples Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of entice Their jacket flaps include marketing copy designed to entice a browser to buy (and, ideally, read) them, teasing the details of their plot, their mood, or the flavor of their prose. Tajja Isen, The Atlantic, 11 Dec. 2024 Still, no place in the world entices him quite the way Senegal does. Arati Menon, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 Dec. 2024 They’re obviously enticed by how far this might go. David Pierce, The Verge, 5 Dec. 2024 JCPenney and Kohl's are dangling early-morning in-store coupon giveaways to entice shoppers to head to stores. Kelly Tyko, Axios, 29 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for entice 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for entice
Verb
  • As budgets get tight, some executives are always tempted to cut back on marketing.
    Megan Poinski, Forbes, 18 Dec. 2024
  • Here's how to keep wild turkeys away from your yard Other Animals While you may be tempted to blame other animals such as opossums or snakes, or even coyotes for making holes or burrows in your yard, these creatures are more likely to use existing animal holes for their dens.
    Arricca Elin SanSone, Southern Living, 18 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • West’s story is commonplace in the predatory world of post-graduate football, where thousands of young men have been lured by the promise of achieving their athletic aspirations, a USA TODAY investigation found.
    Kenny Jacoby, USA TODAY, 12 Dec. 2024
  • Adding satellite service could help Apple lure some Garmin inReach fans who might want to have one less thing to carry even if the inReach’s hundreds of hours of battery life still win out for extended hikes.
    Wes Davis, The Verge, 10 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • The film was way ahead of its time with Fox as a demon possessed it girl, seducing and devouring mainly men.
    Paul Tassi, Forbes, 7 Dec. 2024
  • The first depicted a cheerleader seducing her boyfriend by jumping naked on a trampoline.
    Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 3 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • Four vulnerabilities in WebKit were fixed in iOS 18.2, allowing memory corruption if you were persuaded to interact with malicious web content.
    Kate O'Flaherty, Forbes, 13 Dec. 2024
  • For Democrats who agree with Raskin, no amount of calls for returning to normalcy will persuade them to attend Trump's swearing-in ceremony.
    Phillip M. Bailey, USA TODAY, 13 Dec. 2024

Thesaurus Entries Near entice

Cite this Entry

“Entice.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/entice. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on entice

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