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

• tempt
• lure
• seduce
• persuade

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

According to the most recent survey conducted by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), sentiment among U.S. homebuilders is now at its lowest level since 2022, as many are forced to cut prices and offer incentives to entice reluctant buyers. —Giulia Carbonaro, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 June 2025

Consider homing in on messaging to entice potential guests at a state level, and including campaign variety that appeals to neighboring regions. —Adam Deflorian, Forbes.com, 27 June 2025

For Hale, the industry is ripe for innovation, and the element of control is enticing consumers. —Alexa Mikhail, Fortune, 27 June 2025

These smoky, dark dens of gaming iniquity used to be everywhere, enticing you in with flashing marquees, simple synth melodies, and crunchy 8-bit explosions. —Simon Hill, Wired News, 26 June 2025

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

Rhymes for entice

• advice
• allspice
• concise
• device
• excise
• fordyce
• precise
• suffice
• dice
• feis
• gneiss
• grice

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