seduce

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb seduce differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of seduce are decoy, entice, inveigle, lure, and tempt. While all these words mean "to lead astray from one's true course," seduce implies a leading astray by persuasion or false promises.

seduced by assurances of assistance

In what contexts can decoy take the place of seduce?

While in some cases nearly identical to seduce, decoy implies a luring into entrapment by artifice.

attempting to decoy the enemy into an ambush

When would entice be a good substitute for seduce?

The synonyms entice and seduce are sometimes interchangeable, but entice suggests drawing by artful or adroit means.

advertising designed to entice new customers

When could inveigle be used to replace seduce?

While the synonyms inveigle and seduce are close in meaning, inveigle implies enticing by cajoling or flattering.

fund-raisers inveigling wealthy alumni

When is it sensible to use lure instead of seduce?

The words lure and seduce are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, lure implies a drawing into danger, evil, or difficulty through attracting and deceiving.

lured naive investors with get-rich-quick schemes

Where would tempt be a reasonable alternative to seduce?

In some situations, the words tempt and seduce 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

Example 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 seduce This lush, physically plush period piece is designed to seduce us as surely as Bill Skarsgard’s Count Orlok seduces Lily-Rose Depp’s Ellen, his estate agent’s wife. Stephen Schaefer, Boston Herald, 12 Dec. 2024 Film The Eternal Becoming of Sofia Coppola Soraya Roberts Like so many of her heroines, the director seduces to control. hazlitt.net, 4 Jan. 2025 Football had already seduced the teenager when the father of a friend, who was the quarterback for the Everett High School team in Massachusetts where Sainristil starred, pulled some union ties for the cemetery job. Ben Standig, The Athletic, 3 Jan. 2025 Humankind has always been seduced by promises of miraculous solutions. Luis E. Romero, Forbes, 18 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for seduce 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for seduce
Verb
  • The tax season hadn't even officially started in late December, but the TV ads already began tempting taxpayers with a free pitch to use the TurboTax app.
    Susan Tompor, USA TODAY, 16 Jan. 2025
  • Self has always done best turning four-stars into five-stars through development, but it’s been tempting the last two years to try to plug-and-play through the portal.
    CJ Moore, The Athletic, 15 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • Loyalty plans at chains from AMC (Stubs) to Angelika are helping to lure moviegoers.
    Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 23 Jan. 2025
  • So far, the restaurants have been busy, Tanha said, adding that the brand’s hope is to lure locals as well as tourists.
    Connie Ogle, Miami Herald, 22 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • Trump’s self-assuredness in his ability to persuade and coerce a new Axis of Evil is a major perceptional error.
    Richard E. Vatz, Baltimore Sun, 26 Jan. 2025
  • Just two Republican senators — Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska — voted against advancing Hegseth’s nomination; Democrats are still seeking to persuade others to join them for the final vote, citing accusations about his conduct.
    Andrew Ross Sorkin, New York Times, 24 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • Trump’s firing of pro-labor Abruzzo and Wilcox is rumored to entice Amazon and SpaceX to challenge the constitutionality of the NLRB at the Supreme Court.
    Elaine Mallon, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 28 Jan. 2025
  • As with many scams, the message contains a kernel of truth—enough to entice taxpayers to click.
    Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes, 28 Jan. 2025

Thesaurus Entries Near seduce

Cite this Entry

“Seduce.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/seduce. Accessed 1 Feb. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on seduce

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