seduce

verb

se·​duce si-ˈdüs 

-ˈdyüs

seduced; seducing

transitive verb

1

: to persuade to disobedience or disloyalty

2

: to lead astray usually by persuasion or false promises

3

: to carry out the physical seduction of : entice to sexual intercourse

4

: attract

seducer noun

Synonyms

• allure
• bait
• beguile
• betray
• decoy
• entice
• lead on
• lure
• solicit
• tempt

Choose the Right Synonym for seduce

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 seduce in a Sentence

He tried to seduce her.

She was seduced by an older man.

The other team seduced him with a better offer.

Recent Examples on the Web

Sirens is smartest when paralleling the entitlement of 21st century American wealth with Ancient Greek divinity, skewering the insularity and entitlement of these modern plutocrats who throw galas to honor themselves and to torment or seduce the mortals who are their employees and playthings. —Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 22 May 2025

This would suck capital investment back to America in a nanosecond and financially seduce companies to reshore factories, labs and headquarters back here with bargain-low tax rates. —Stephen Moore, Boston Herald, 14 May 2025

Rather than being seduced by the siren song of constant disruption, businesses may want to focus on creating excellence in what already exists. —Vikram Joshi, Forbes.com, 13 May 2025

Certainly, the director had never made anything quite as … reputable as this handsome, sweeping adaptation of David Henry Hwang’s hit Broadway show about a French businessman seduced by an opera singer in 1960s Beijing. —A.a. Dowd, Vulture, 28 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Late Latin seducere, from Latin, to lead away, from se- apart + ducere to lead — more at tow entry 1

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for seduce

• abstruse
• abuse
• adduce
• atreus
• caboose
• cayuse
• conduce
• deduce
• diffuse
• disuse
• excuse
• footloose

Kids Definition

seduce

verb

se·​duce si-ˈd(y)üs 

seduced; seducing

1

: to persuade to be disobedient or disloyal

2

: to persuade to do wrong

seduced into crime

3

: to persuade to have sexual intercourse especially for the first time

seducer noun

seduction

-ˈdək-shən

noun