entice

verb

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

transitive verb

: to attract artfully or adroitly or by arousing hope or desire : tempt
enticement
in-ˈtī-smənt How to pronounce entice (audio)
en-
noun

Synonyms of entice

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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.
The seminary student and educator has also been critical of his own party — calling it out for ineptitude, leaving voters behind — and arguing that anti-establishment messaging is enticing to Latinos who have been spurned by both major parties. — Carlos De Loera, Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2026 Google is correct that Personal Intelligence is opt-in, but the company uses various prompts and pop-ups to entice users to turn it on without fully explaining the consequences. — Ryan Whitwam, ArsTechnica, 23 Oct. 2026 Emirates, which has nearly returned to its prewar capacity, is trying to entice more connecting travelers on long-haul flights to make a stop in Dubai. — Mohammed Sergie, semafor.com, 22 Oct. 2026 Kennedy said that to win, Fitzpatrick may have to entice some voters who also plan to back Shapiro in November. — Dan Snyder, CBS News, 21 Oct. 2026 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

Rhymes for entice

See All Rhymes for entice

Browse Nearby Words

enthymeme
entice
enticement
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Entice.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/entice. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

entice

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