seduce

verb

se·​duce si-ˈdüs 

-ˈdyüs

seduced; seducing

transitive verb

1

: to persuade to disobedience or disloyalty

2

: to lead astray usually by persuasion or false promises

3

: to carry out the physical seduction of : entice to sexual intercourse

4

: attract

seducer noun

Synonyms

• allure
• bait
• beguile
• betray
• decoy
• entice
• lead on
• lure
• solicit
• tempt

Choose the Right Synonym for seduce

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 seduce in a Sentence

He tried to seduce her.

She was seduced by an older man.

The other team seduced him with a better offer.

Recent Examples on the Web

Legend has it that Parthenope drowned herself in the sea when her songs failed to seduce Odysseus, her body eventually washing up along the shores of Naples. —David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 3 Feb. 2025

As an undercover policeman, his job is to loiter near the men’s bathroom at the local shopping mall and seduce passing trade into committing acts of what his superiors would call gross indecency. —Damon Wise, Deadline, 27 Jan. 2025

In both, the vampire then makes a voyage to the more civilized west, terrorizing the citizens there—Whitby, in England and Wisborg in Germany—while attempting to seduce a beautiful woman. —Erik Kain, Forbes, 29 Dec. 2024

Frank Langella, Dracula (1979) This lush adaptation with a score by John Williams is one of the most overtly erotic, featuring Langella as a dashing playboy Dracula who seduces Harker’s fiancée. —Celia Mattison, Vulture, 27 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Late Latin seducere, from Latin, to lead away, from se- apart + ducere to lead — more at tow entry 1

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

seduce

verb

se·​duce si-ˈd(y)üs 

seduced; seducing

1

: to persuade to be disobedient or disloyal

2

: to persuade to do wrong

seduced into crime

3

: to persuade to have sexual intercourse especially for the first time

seducer noun

seduction

-ˈdək-shən

noun