entice

verb

en·​tice in-ˈtīs How to pronounce entice (audio)
en-
enticed; enticing
Synonyms of enticenext

transitive verb

: to attract artfully or adroitly or by arousing hope or desire : tempt
enticement noun
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

every commercial seemed to be for some tempting snack specifically designed to entice me from my diet
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Remove What Attracts Them Next, focus your attention on eliminating the conditions that make your home enticing to spiders. Kate Van Pelt, The Spruce, 29 Dec. 2025 Credit Cards Credit card companies are always finding new ways to entice customers and cardholders—and that includes various museum perks. Lauren David, Travel + Leisure, 27 Dec. 2025 The Mexico City native has put his 30 years of experience into the restaurant’s enticing New American-style dishes, such as the spectacular lollipop lamb chops with chimichurri and a Coca-Cola glaze (a deliberate nod to the brand). Su-Jit Lin, Southern Living, 27 Dec. 2025 The Citi Executive is ideal for frequent American flyers, while the Citi Globe card offers enough perks to entice casual flyers to choose American. Harlan Vaughn, CNBC, 26 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for entice

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of entice was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Entice.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/entice. Accessed 1 Jan. 2026.

Kids Definition

entice

verb
en·​tice in-ˈtīs How to pronounce entice (audio)
enticed; enticing
: to attract by arousing hope or desire : tempt
enticement noun
enticingly adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on entice

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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