seduce
Americanverb (used with object)
-
to lead astray, as from duty, rectitude, or the like; corrupt.
- Antonyms:
- repel
-
to persuade or induce to have sexual intercourse.
-
to lead or draw away, as from principles, faith, or allegiance.
He was seduced by the prospect of gain.
-
to win over; attract; entice.
a supermarket seducing customers with special sales.
verb
-
to persuade to engage in sexual intercourse
-
to lead astray, as from the right action
-
to win over, attract, or lure
Usage
What does seduce mean? To seduce someone is to make them want to engage in sexual activity with you, especially in a subtle or manipulative way.Seduce is also commonly used in a more general way meaning to tempt or influence someone to do something, especially something bad or something they wouldn’t normally do. Though this sense of the word does not involve sex, it’s still often thought of as a metaphor for the type of seducing that does.Both senses of the word often imply a subtle manipulation in which one’s motives are hidden.People or things that seduce are said to be seductive. The act of seducing is called seduction.Example: They’re going to try to seduce you with flattery and a fancy dinner, but try to focus on the terms of the deal before you make your decision.
Related Words
See tempt.
Other Word Forms
- seduceable adjective
- seducer noun
- seducible adjective
- seducingly adverb
- unseducible adjective
- unseducibleness noun
- unseducibly adverb
Etymology
Origin of seduce
First recorded in 1470–80; from Latin sēdūcere “to lead aside,” equivalent to sē- se- + dūcere “to lead”; replacing earlier seduise, from Middle French, from Latin, as above
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
“Can you honestly imagine a guy like you having difficulty seducing a woman?”
From Los Angeles Times
She’s too busy seducing women and swatting down randy men.
From Los Angeles Times
Like turntables, typewriters, tiki bars and film cameras, these midcentury motels are back, seducing millennials, Gen Z and baby boomers like the character Johnny Rose on the beloved TV series “Schitt’s Creek.”
From Los Angeles Times
Shot in saturated primary colors, the visual of the song finds her seducing both the camera and her dancing partner in no uncertain terms.
From Los Angeles Times
He teased, cajoled and vexed his listeners, daring them to explore the "devilish" contours of his mind, as he sang rash rhymes about parties, drugs and "seducing" women.
From BBC
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
