entice

[en-tahys]

verb (used with object)

enticed, enticing 

1. to lead on by exciting hope or desire; allure; inveigle.

   They were enticed westward by dreams of gold.

   Synonyms: tempt, decoy, attract, lure
   Antonyms: repel

entice

/ ɪnˈtaɪs /

verb

1. (tr) to attract or draw towards oneself by exciting hope or desire; tempt; allure

Other Word Forms

• unenticed adjective
• enticing adjective
• enticingly adverb
• enticer noun
• enticement noun
• enticingness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of entice¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English enticen, from Old French enticier “to incite,” from unattested Vulgar Latin intitiāre, equivalent to Latin in- in- ² + -titiāre, verbal derivative of unattested titius, for titiō “piece of burning wood”

Word History and Origins

Origin of entice¹

C13: from Old French enticier, from Vulgar Latin intitiāre (unattested) to incite, from Latin titiō firebrand

Example Sentences

The inception of ObamaCare offered an enticing target for cost shaving: retiree health coverage.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

He turned to his playbook of doing just enough to protect and grow the business, a conservative strategy that has been on display this year with clever political and legal maneuvering and enticing new iPhones.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The store’s opening on Saturday underscores how Meta is expanding its retail presence as it tries to entice more people to buy its virtual reality headsets and AI glasses.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Adding to their appeal: a growing number of uses beyond weight loss, as well as the potential for pill versions, now in development, to entice patients who won’t take an injection.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Such programs typically attempt to entice employees to retire by offering them a severance package.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• attract 
• beguile 
• cajole 
• coax 
• seduce 
• tempt