seductive

[si-duhk-tiv]

adjective

1. tending to seduce; enticing; beguiling; captivating.

   a seductive smile.

   Synonyms: alluring, tempting
   Antonyms: repellent

seductive

/ sɪˈdʌktɪv /

adjective

1. tending to seduce or capable of seducing; enticing; alluring

Other Word Forms

• seductively adverb
• seductiveness noun
• unseductive adjective
• unseductively adverb
• unseductiveness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of seductive¹

First recorded in 1755–65; seduct(ion) + -ive

Example Sentences

“Retribution is seductive like that, promising a clean line between good and evil. But it’s an illusion,” she eventually concludes in her book.

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Life would become just a perpetual cruise to fill our time with endless seductive distractions.

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Heusinger’s James has a seductive earnestness that conceals some shocking character developments.

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“The seductive vampire is, by definition, a source of irresistible fascination,” Cameron said.

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“Inspired by the tranquil glamour of Lake Como and infused with the seductive allure of Bond’s Casino Royale, this Italian contemporary masterpiece is an ode to elegance, privacy, and security.”

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Related Words

• attractive 
• captivating 
• charming 
• enticing 
• fascinating 
• flirtatious 
• inviting 
• irresistible 
• provocative 
• tempting 

When To Use

What does seductive mean?

Seductive is used to describe someone who makes you want to engage in sexual activity with them, especially in a subtle or manipulative way.Seductive is also commonly used in a more general way to describe someone or something that tempts or influences someone to do something, especially something bad or something they wouldn’t normally do. Though this meaning of the word does not involve sex, it’s still often associated with the sense of the word that does.Both senses of the word often imply a subtle manipulation in which one’s motives are hidden.Seductive is the adjective form of the verb seduce. The act of seducing is called seduction.Example: There’s nothing I find more seductive in a person than the confidence to be who they are.