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verb Uncommon

seduce

sih-DYOOS

Seduce (verb) means to persuade someone to do something unwise or improper, often by charm or temptation. Example: “Advertisers try to seduce customers with flashy promises of savings.”

verb
1
To persuade someone to do something unwise or improper, often by charm or temptation.
"Advertisers try to seduce customers with flashy promises of savings."
2
To entice someone into a sexual relationship.
"The film centers on a con artist who seduces a wealthy widow."

How to use seduce

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishTo tempt or lure someone away from what they should be doing, often sexually or through charm.

Common pairings
seduce someone seduced by the idea of try to seduce

Word forms

seduced past tense, seduces singular

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Advertisers try to _____ customers with flashy promises of savings.

Etymology

From Latin seducere, "to lead astray," from se- ("away") + ducere ("to lead") — the same root as "duct" and "conduct."

Origin: Latin

Related words

Rhymes for seduce

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Frequently asked questions

What does “seduce” mean?

The word “seduce” means to persuade someone to do something unwise or improper, often by charm or temptation.

How do you pronounce “seduce”?

“Seduce” is pronounced sih-DYOOS (/sɪˈd(j)uːs/ in IPA).

How do you use “seduce” in a sentence?

Here is “seduce” used in a sentence: “Advertisers try to seduce customers with flashy promises of savings.”

What part of speech is “seduce”?

“Seduce” is a verb.

Where does the word “seduce” come from?

The word “seduce” comes from Latin. From Latin seducere, "to lead astray," from se- ("away") + ducere ("to lead") — the same root as "duct" and "conduct.".

Is “seduce” a common word?

“Seduce” is an uncommon word in modern English.

How many meanings does “seduce” have?

“Seduce” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to persuade someone to do something unwise or improper, often by charm or temptation.

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Definitions: FreeDict original editorial