enticing

adjective

en·​tic·​ing in-ˈtī-siŋ 

en-

: arousing strong attraction or interest : alluring

an enticing aroma

an enticing menu

an enticing opportunity/possibility

Some of the most enticing food on the menu is in the "little bite" section, more than a dozen appetizers priced from $5 to $11 per plate.

—Aleta Watson

… the books that would give him a taste of the knowledge which was more enticing to his wide-awake young mind than clothes and food to his poor little body.

—Louisa May Alcott

enticingly adverb

an enticingly aromatic dish

… this program enticingly acquaints students with the features and potential of microcomputers.

—Booklist

He looked on her, his bright, healthy, enticingly beautiful daughter, and wondered what was going to become of her.

—Theodore Dreiser

enticingness noun

We shall seek to be frugal with our sweet possessions, though their enticingness quite leads us astray …

—Emily Dickinson

Examples of enticing in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

His enticing but concise menu features delicate flavor combinations that will not overpower the subtleties of some of the world’s finest wine. —Mike Desimone and Jeff Jenssen, Robb Report, 19 Sep. 2023

The reports also make clear that despite the troublesome landscape, China remains an enticing lure for Western corporations. —Alexandra Stevenson, New York Times, 19 Sep. 2023

Each dish features Colombian-only ingredients and is paired with an equally enticing drink or cocktail. —Adam Groffman, Travel + Leisure, 17 Sep. 2023

However, finding something as enticing as this recipe may be challenging. —Sharon Greenthal, Better Homes & Gardens, 13 Sep. 2023

Made to mimic local Rhode Island baitfish, such as butterfish, sand eels, tinker mackerel, and peanut bunker, Point Judes have an enticing action aided by a keel running down the length of the lure. —Jimmy Fee, Field & Stream, 13 Sep. 2023

At his restaurants, which include nearly 20 locations in northern Virginia and suburban Maryland, the items on the kids’ menus are priced lower with the hope of enticing families, including moms and dads who will order full-sized entrees — and maybe an extra appetizer or glass of wine. —Emily Heil, Washington Post, 11 Sep. 2023

The current owners have held events with 1,000 attendees, so corporations could also find this an enticing property. Ever-popular Cedar Creek Lake communities can feel crowded as people share amenities like docks, sport courts and pools. —Allie Beth Allman & Associates, Dallas News, 10 Sep. 2023

The enticing rotting meat stench that a fly finds delightful is perceived quite differently by a person passing by a stinking dumpster on a hot day. —Christine Picard, The Conversation, 4 Sep. 2023

See More

Word History

First Known Use

1553, in the meaning defined above