Definition and pronunciation
entice /ɪnˈtaɪs/ — verb: to attract, persuade, or tempt someone by offering something appealing, often with a sense of charm, promise, or reward.
Easy explanation
To entice means to make someone want to do something by making it look appealing. For example, “The smell of fresh bread enticed me into the bakery.” It’s like inviting or luring, but usually softer and more positive.
Grammatical formation
- Verb: entice, entices, enticed, enticing.
- Noun: enticement.
- Adjective: enticing.
- Adverb: enticingly.
- Typical structure: entice someone to do something; entice someone with something.
Meanings and nuances
- Attract or persuade — to make something appealing (“The store enticed customers with discounts”).
- Tempt or lure — sometimes with risk or trickery, but not as harsh as “lure.”
- Marketing/advertising — frequently used in business to describe how customers are drawn in.
With prepositions and variants
- entice someone to do something: “They enticed her to join the team.”
- entice someone with something: “He enticed me with stories of adventure.”
- enticed by: “She was enticed by the offer.”
- enticement into: “The enticement into risky business was strong.”
Common collocations
entice customers, entice investors, entice buyers, entice into action, enticing offer, enticing smile, entice someone with money, enticing aroma, enticing prospect, enticing display, enticing advertisement
Idioms and neighboring expressions
entice into temptation, dangle a carrot, sweeten the deal, bait the hook, too good to resist, make irresistible
Word comparisons
- entice vs lure: lure often implies deception; entice is softer, often positive.
- entice vs tempt: tempt emphasizes desire and potential wrongdoing; entice is about attractiveness.
- entice vs seduce: seduce is strongly sexual or manipulative; entice is general and milder.
- entice vs attract: attract is neutral; entice is active persuasion.
Real-life examples
- “The resort enticed visitors with free meals.”
- “The salary package enticed him to switch jobs.”
- “She was enticed by the perfume’s smell.”
- “The company entices buyers with holiday sales.”
- “The dog was enticed into the house with treats.”
Sample sentences
- “The restaurant enticed passersby with the smell of spices.”
- “He enticed her with promises of adventure.”
- “The offer enticed many students to apply.”
- “She was enticed by the idea of living abroad.”
- “The store entices shoppers with discounts.”
- “Bright colors enticed children into the fairground.”
- “The dog was enticed by food.”
- “The campaign enticed young voters.”
- “They enticed him into joining the project.”
- “The ad enticed customers to try the new product.”
Synonyms
attract, tempt, allure, lure, persuade, coax, seduce, draw, invite, fascinate, captivate
Antonyms
repel, deter, discourage, dissuade, drive away, reject, push away
Related terms
enticement, alluring, tempting, attraction, persuasion, seduction, bait, offer, magnetism, fascination, charm, appeal
Connection to sexuality
Entice can appear in sexual or romantic contexts (“She enticed him with a smile”), but it is not always sexual. It simply means making something appealing—whether that’s love, food, business, or opportunity.
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