entice

verb

en·​tice in-ˈtīs How to pronounce entice (audio)
en-
enticed; enticing

transitive verb

: to attract artfully or adroitly or by arousing hope or desire : tempt
enticement noun
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 Microsoft is trying to entice Windows 10 users to upgrade to Windows 11 with fullscreen prompts 18 months before the end of support cutoff. Tom Warren, The Verge, 11 Apr. 2024 Inside, the new house has extra insulation to block indoor and outdoor noise, an expansive kitchen to entice residents to cook healthy meals, and temperature controls in each bedroom to promote a better night’s sleep (the ideal is 66 to 68 degrees, health experts say). Rebecca San Juan, Miami Herald, 10 Apr. 2024 Smith suggested sales companies without a base or team in London would benefit from MIP’s expertise and that the unscripted and kids television communities, which attend MIPTV but not the London Screenings, may be enticed to attend. Liza Foreman, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 Apr. 2024 Once Prozac, Zoloft, and other selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors went generic, the efficacy and low prices meant few doctors were willing to put their patients on name brands — and few big drugmakers were enticed into developing next-generation options. Sarah Owermohle, STAT, 5 Apr. 2024 The idea is to create an experience that is good enough to entice a customer to make a purchase now and again in the future. Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 3 Apr. 2024 Well, the prospect of having to pay less in the long run is enticing enough, especially as mortgage rates remain elevated, experts agree. Sydney Lake, Fortune, 1 Apr. 2024 In the short term, the drama surrounding Ohtani will likely entice more people to tune in to games. Elizabeth Robinson, NBC News, 22 Mar. 2024 Its climate-conscious outlook is also enticing travelers looking for a new summer city break. Olivia Morelli, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 Apr. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'entice.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of entice was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near entice

Cite this Entry

“Entice.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/entice. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.

Kids Definition

entice

verb
en·​tice in-ˈtīs How to pronounce entice (audio)
enticed; enticing
: to attract by arousing hope or desire : tempt
enticement noun
enticingly adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on entice

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