seduce
verb
transitive verb
Synonyms
- allure
- bait
- beguile
- betray
- decoy
- entice
- lead on
- lure
- solicit
- tempt
Example Sentences
Lorraine Ali, Los Angeles Times, 11 Sep. 2022 Intoxicated by the possibilities of this face, Okuyama begins to live a parallel life and eventually decides to seduce his own wife, cuckolding, and thus supplanting, himself. Robert Rubsam, The Atlantic, 19 Aug. 2022 But is that desire to win Celeste’s professional approval, to seduce her or to be her? Rory Satran, WSJ, 20 Aug. 2022 When the job goes badly, Wanda attempts to seduce George's stuffy lawyer, Archie Leach (John Cleese), to find out where George hid the diamonds. Travis Bean, Forbes, 31 July 2022 Like tropical islands everywhere, the Florida Keys seduce the visitor with the promise of a blank slate. Charles Graeber, Travel + Leisure, 6 Mar. 2021 Rachel and the guys walked in on a couple making out and eventually the pair introduced themselves as Flora and Boris, romance experts who would take the men through tasks to help them seduce Rachel. Dana Rose Falcone, PEOPLE.com, 1 Aug. 2022 The dress designed by Fannie Schiavoni was intended for Beth to lure, seduce and gather information. Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 6 June 2022 Since Ra-el can’t take down LY group by force, her plan is to seduce and destroy Yoon-kyum. Joan Macdonald, Forbes, 3 June 2022 See More Word History
Late Latin seducere, from Latin, to lead away, from se- apart + ducere to lead — more at tow entry 1
15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Kids Definition
seduce
verb
seduce
verb
Synonyms & Similar Words
- tempt
- lure
- persuade
- entice
- betray
- beguile
- bait
- allure
- decoy
- lead on
- solicit
- inveigle
- fascinate
- ensnare
- enchant
- trap
- entrap
- captivate
- bewitch
- draw in
- charm
- enmesh
- snare
- snow
- magnetize
- catch
- wile
- mesh
- tangle
- rope (in)
- immesh
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- warn
- alert
- ward (off)
- caution
- forewarn
- drive (away or off)
- turn away
- repulse
Synonym Chooser
Some common synonyms of seduce are decoy, entice, inveigle, lure, and tempt. While all these words mean "to lead astray from one's true course," seduce implies a leading astray by persuasion or false promises.
While in some cases nearly identical to seduce, decoy implies a luring into entrapment by artifice.
The synonyms entice and seduce are sometimes interchangeable, but entice suggests drawing by artful or adroit means.
While the synonyms inveigle and seduce are close in meaning, inveigle implies enticing by cajoling or flattering.
The words lure and seduce are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, lure implies a drawing into danger, evil, or difficulty through attracting and deceiving.
In some situations, the words tempt and seduce are roughly equivalent. However, tempt implies the presenting of an attraction so strong that it overcomes the restraints of conscience or better judgment.