inveigle

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb inveigle differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of inveigle are decoy, entice, lure, seduce, and tempt. While all these words mean "to lead astray from one's true course," inveigle implies enticing by cajoling or flattering.

fund-raisers inveigling wealthy alumni

When is it sensible to use decoy instead of inveigle?

While in some cases nearly identical to inveigle, decoy implies a luring into entrapment by artifice.

attempting to decoy the enemy into an ambush

When might entice be a better fit than inveigle?

Although the words entice and inveigle have much in common, entice suggests drawing by artful or adroit means.

advertising designed to entice new customers

When could lure be used to replace inveigle?

The words lure and inveigle can be used in similar contexts, but lure implies a drawing into danger, evil, or difficulty through attracting and deceiving.

lured naive investors with get-rich-quick schemes

When is seduce a more appropriate choice than inveigle?

While the synonyms seduce and inveigle are close in meaning, seduce implies a leading astray by persuasion or false promises.

seduced by assurances of assistance

In what contexts can tempt take the place of inveigle?

The meanings of tempt and inveigle largely overlap; however, 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

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of inveigle Unlike his small-time Israeli rivals, the placards implied, Netanyahu was a savvy statesman who punched above his weight on the international stage, thanks to his unaccented English oratory and ability to inveigle the world’s most powerful people. Yair Rosenberg, The Atlantic, 22 May 2025 On hand for the séance is a thoroughly skeptical Poirot, inveigled to attend by a mystery-novelist friend, Ariadne Oliver. Mark Feeney, BostonGlobe.com, 11 Sep. 2023 Norman Mailer tried to inveigle his dinner guests into an orgy, and not long after wrote a cruel letter to Styron, breaking off their friendship. Marion Winik, Washington Post, 15 June 2023 Another threat that is likely to inveigle itself into the Web3 domain is phishing. Andrew Newman, Forbes, 4 May 2022 All of those thinly veiled efforts to inveigle an answer are met with a stock response. New York Times, 26 Nov. 2021 The two cell-surface proteins that SARS-CoV-2 uses to make contact with its target cells and inveigle its way into them would fit into this category. The Economist, 20 Aug. 2020
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inveigle
Verb
  • Some experts, meanwhile, say that instead of demanding that insurers sell their stake in fossil fuel companies, advocates and policymakers should focus on modernizing regulations to persuade insurers to expand coverage in fire-prone areas.
    Ethan Varian, Mercury News, 19 Oct. 2025
  • For its part, Ukraine is betting on long-range strikes targeting Russian energy infrastructure to persuade the Kremlin to accept negotiations.
    Tim Lister, CNN Money, 18 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Conveniently, two beautiful young strangers (Ana de Armas, Lorenza Izzo) come by late one stormy night, inviting themselves in and quickly seducing him.
    Tim Grierson, Vulture, 18 Oct. 2025
  • Countless service members were seduced by the region’s beauty and fair weather and chose to settle here.
    Gary Robbins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • That's when the companies start trying to entice business customers onto their platform by being really good to them - at the expense of their users.
    NPR, NPR, 21 Oct. 2025
  • But an uninspired and shallow story – which includes a rape scene demanded by the studio – hampers his attempts to entice us with a chilling and menacing tone.
    Rory Doherty, Vulture, 20 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Norvell benched his first starting QB, Clay Millen, in favor of Fowler-Nicolosi in 2023 and later accused Kansas State of offering a six-figure Name/Image/Likeness arrangement to lure the QB away from Fort Collins.
    Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 19 Oct. 2025
  • Property owners have been trying to get discounts with tactics like switching from individual cans to dumpsters, making changes to their organic recycling or teaming with nearby properties to lure haulers with better economies of scale.
    David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • For under $10, you may even be tempted to grab more than one, and who can blame you?
    Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 21 Oct. 2025
  • Midday Time Of all the times when you might be tempted to cut some fresh flowers for your table, midday is one to avoid.
    Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 17 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The results of all those frames are beguiling slow-motion shots that show just how close riders’ body parts are to touching the pavement while leaning during turns.
    Erik Shilling, Robb Report, 6 Oct. 2025
  • As any experiencer will tell you, the paranormal is beguiling by nature, a plunge into the unknown that offers no easy answers.
    Daniel Noah, IndieWire, 17 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Sam Colangelo, who hasn’t played since a season-opening loss in Seattle, appeared likely to draw in for enforcer Ross Johnston.
    Andrew Knoll, Oc Register, 19 Oct. 2025
  • Mamdani’s spots are designed to draw in fan bases from both reality series, something that campaigns have tried to reach in recent cycles.
    Ted Johnson, Deadline, 15 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Inveigle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inveigle. Accessed 26 Oct. 2025.

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