as in to tempt
to lead away from a usual or proper course by offering some pleasure or advantage
the hunter lured the lion into the open with the antelope carcass
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in temptation
something that persuades one to perform an action for pleasure or gain
the promise of easy money is always the lure for some people to play the lottery good schools are a lure for prospective home buyers
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in bait
something used to attract animals to a hook or into a trap
the fish simply didn't seem to like the lure I was using, so I didn't catch a thing
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in seduction
the act or pressure of giving in to a desire especially when ill-advised
the lure of the video game was distracting me from my studies
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of lure
Sj McShane,
Martha Stewart,
30 June 2026
In an act of pure showmanship, Bolton has placed mannequins clothed in fleshlike skintight garments in a tall glass vitrine visible to museumgoers heading toward the medieval wing—a seductive preview that may help lure them away from Arms and Armor.
—
Rachel Syme,
New Yorker,
29 June 2026
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
23 June 2026
Eng, who grew up in Hong Kong, pursued a career in information systems and risk management, but the lure of the kitchen led him to culinary school and thereafter to Cotogna and Mayfield Bakery.
—
Laura Ness,
Mercury News,
23 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for lure
Verb
Dill can also act as a trap crop, luring hornworms away from tomatoes.
—
Sj McShane,
Martha Stewart,
30 June 2026
In an act of pure showmanship, Bolton has placed mannequins clothed in fleshlike skintight garments in a tall glass vitrine visible to museumgoers heading toward the medieval wing—a seductive preview that may help lure them away from Arms and Armor.
—
Rachel Syme,
New Yorker,
29 June 2026
Noun
Food and drink Fine dining is perhaps the biggest lure for One&One One Za’abeel, with a host of starry venues from leading chefs in The Link, including La Dame De Pic by Anne-Sophie Pic; DuangDy by Bo Songvisava and Dylan Jones of Bangkok’s Bo.
—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
23 June 2026
Eng, who grew up in Hong Kong, pursued a career in information systems and risk management, but the lure of the kitchen led him to culinary school and thereafter to Cotogna and Mayfield Bakery.
—
Laura Ness,
Mercury News,
23 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for lure
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lure
Verb
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Now the game’s future is looking decidedly brighter and many more players of the original may be tempted to give the sequel a second chance.
-
If the thermostat is working properly but the air conditioner is struggling, don't be tempted to turn down the temperature even more.
Noun
-
The temptation is to read those two companies as competing bets on the same market.
-
There is a temptation to read the Congo and the United States as separate stories, one about a fragile state far away and one about our own polarized politics.
Noun
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Those interviews suggest that donors seeking to celebrate America fell for a bait-and-switch that, if true, could have violated various criminal statutes.
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Work your bait back right along the rocks, and be ready for a hot bite—literally.
Noun
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Hurlbut agreed that the seduction of AI is its ease and accessibility.
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The rhythm of the writing shows the staccato nature of those relationships, with their stops and starts, and how sometimes signs of seduction cannot be misinterpreted or not picked up at all.
Verb
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That book is a revenge fantasy about the former art school professor who seduced her, discarded her and destroyed her confidence as a painter.
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The writer thinks that the person seducing the main character is just some flotsam, hardly worth a second look.
Noun
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Nearly a year after the expiration of a $7,500 federal tax incentive for new electric vehicles, California is stepping in to try to motivate buyers to go electric.
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The attack shocked Monaco, a coastal playground for the rich and famous known for its tax-friendly incentives, royal family and Formula 1 Grand Prix.
Verb
-
Some supplements and chews are offered in different flavors to better entice your dog.
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That subscription data, entertainment, and safety service offers complementary base services, but owners are enticed to upgrade for premium services.
Noun
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It’s situated in downtown Sarasota near Sarasota Bay, putting you close to an array of restaurants and attractions like The Bay park and Selby Gardens.
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Let’s talk about the angst and awkwardness of teenage attraction.
Cite this Entry
“Lure.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lure. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.
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