entice

1 of 2

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

enticement

2 of 2

noun

en·​tice·​ment -mənt 

plural -s

1

obsolete : incitement

2

: the act of enticing

3

: something that entices : a means or method of enticing

Synonyms of entice

Verb

• 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

Verb

every commercial seemed to be for some tempting snack specifically designed to entice me from my diet

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

This democratization would be yet another brick in the road toward a new generation enticing the James Beard Awards to the city’s door. — Amy Drew Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 Nov. 2026

Credit card companies long ago realized that offering lounge access enticed new customers, with Chase, American Express, Citi, Capital One, and more getting in the game. — Elise Taylor, Vanity Fair, 6 Nov. 2026

Once the victim engages in a back-and-forth, a supervisor experienced in emotional manipulation takes over to build a relationship and entice the victim to hand over their money. — ABC News, 5 Nov. 2026

Only a handful of new acts a year develop with the profile and following to entice that kind of spending on physical product from their fans, but there’s no shortage of such acts to be found in the past. — Eric Renner Brown, Billboard, 4 Nov. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English, from Anglo-French enticer, from Vulgar Latin *intitiare, from Latin in- + titio firebrand

Noun

Middle English, from Old French, from enticier + -ment

First Known Use

Verb

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