EN

Synonyms for lure

29 synonyms
8 antonyms
3 meanings

verb
noun

Most common

entice tempt attract seduce

Synonyms by meaning

Verb

entice, tempt, attract, seduce, allure, beguile, cajole, draw, drill, inveigle, ensnare, entrap, coax, bewitch, captivate, fascinate

Noun

1. Enticement

enticement, come-on, temptation, attraction, seduction, allurement, inducement

2. Bait

3. Hook

hook, sweetener

Other

Antonyms

repel, repulse, deter

All antonyms of lure →

Definitions

v. 1
To attract by temptation, appeal, or guile.
n. 1
Something that tempts or attracts, especially one with a promise of reward or pleasure.
n. 2
An artificial bait attached to a fishing line to attract fish.
n. 3
A bunch of feathers attached to a line, used in falconry to recall the hawk.

Related words

Word family: luresome
Phrases: spoon lure
Other spellings: lur lurr

Forms

Plural: lures → enticements, come-ons, temptations, attractions…
Past participle: lured
e.g. lured → enticed, tempted, attracted, seduced…

Choose the right word

or Lure?

Lure is rather more akin to the physical nature.

J. C. Fernald, English Synonyms and Antonyms (1914)

Example sentences

attract Positive atomic nuclei attract negative electrons.
seduce Robert tried to seduce Martha, but she rejected him.
tempt The brochure didn't tempt me to go on holiday there.
entice He hopes to entice her into doing what he wants.

Popularity over time

Word	1850 → 2019	Trend
lure		rising
attract		steady
seduce		rising
tempt		rising
entice		rising

Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.

By length

4 letters: draw¹, hook¹, toll¹, bait¹, coax¹
5 letters: drill¹, tempt¹, snare¹, decoy²
6 letters: seduce², entice², allure², entrap², cajole²
7 letters: attract², ensnare², beguile², bewitch²
8 letters: inveigle
9 letters: seduction³, sweetener³, captivate³, fascinate³
10 letters: attraction³, temptation³, inducement³, enticement³, allurement

The small number after each word is its number of syllables (decoy² = 2 syllables).