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."
""Mrs. Robinson, are you trying to seduce me?" "Do you want me to seduce you?""
— Calder Willingham, Buck Henry (1967)
How to use seduce
Learner’s notesIn 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
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- seduces
- Past tense
- seduced
Fill the gap
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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."
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for seduce
See all rhymes for seduce →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.
