lure 1 of 2

lure

2 of 2

noun

1
as in temptation
something that persuades one to perform an action for pleasure or gain the promise of easy money is always the lure for some people to play the lottery good schools are a lure for prospective home buyers

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2
as in bait
something used to attract animals to a hook or into a trap the fish simply didn't seem to like the lure I was using, so I didn't catch a thing

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

3
as in seduction
the act or pressure of giving in to a desire especially when ill-advised the lure of the video game was distracting me from my studies

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb lure differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of lure are decoy, entice, inveigle, seduce, and tempt. While all these words mean "to lead astray from one's true course," lure implies a drawing into danger, evil, or difficulty through attracting and deceiving.

lured naive investors with get-rich-quick schemes

When might decoy be a better fit than lure?

In some situations, the words decoy and lure are roughly equivalent. However, decoy implies a luring into entrapment by artifice.

attempting to decoy the enemy into an ambush

When is entice a more appropriate choice than lure?

The synonyms entice and lure are sometimes interchangeable, but entice suggests drawing by artful or adroit means.

advertising designed to entice new customers

When is it sensible to use inveigle instead of lure?

While in some cases nearly identical to lure, inveigle implies enticing by cajoling or flattering.

fund-raisers inveigling wealthy alumni

Where would seduce be a reasonable alternative to lure?

Although the words seduce and lure have much in common, seduce implies a leading astray by persuasion or false promises.

seduced by assurances of assistance

When would tempt be a good substitute for lure?

The words tempt and lure are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, tempt implies the presenting of an attraction so strong that it overcomes the restraints of conscience or better judgment.

tempted by the offer of money

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of lure
Verb
The main driver for luring international shoots is a combination of the country’s tax incentives and the fact that Cinecittà is being transformed into a large state-of-the-art digital age complex. Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 29 May 2025 Marseille is a port city, constantly in motion; immigration waves from North Africa, Italy and Corsica have shaped much of its modern cultural fabric, and now young people from cities across Europe, lured by a less expensive cost of living and easy access to nature, are coming in droves. Lily Radziemski, New York Times, 29 May 2025
Noun
Elgin police and animal control officers faced a challenge trying to wrangle the runaway, needing about 15 minutes — and the lure of carrots — to corral him, the family said. Gloria Casas, Chicago Tribune, 27 May 2025 Advertisement Advertisement Policymakers have been falling prey to the lure of ignoring sound economics for centuries. Time, 23 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for lure
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lure
Verb
  • There was interest from the Saudi Pro League last summer, and clubs may be tempted to try again.
    Jay Harris, New York Times, 29 May 2025
  • Setbacks may tempt you to stray from your vision, but staying true to yourself attracts the right clients, collaborators and opportunities.
    Rolling Stone Culture Council, Rolling Stone, 27 May 2025
Noun
  • The temptation to appear unflappable is strong, especially at the top.
    Julian Hayes II, Forbes.com, 30 May 2025
  • But the temptation to point fingers at Republicans and play whataboutism — instead of acknowledging what millions of voters perceive as the acquiescence of Democrats to institutional corruption — will be fatal.
    Alexander Heffner, Chicago Tribune, 29 May 2025
Noun
  • If Payton wants to cut bait, Jim Leonhard is waiting in the wings.
    Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 1 June 2025
  • Guidry falls for the bait, Bill is arrested, and the detective ends the story as the sisters’ flatly ethical pawn.
    Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 29 May 2025
Noun
  • Viewers eager for strategy and a touch of seduction will find everything waiting when Scandal lands back on Netflix on June 17.
    Tahar Rajab, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 May 2025
  • Especially in the language, there’s a lot of seduction in the lyrics.
    Vita Dadoo, Rolling Stone, 15 May 2025
Verb
  • Going even further, its materiality, terra-cotta, and its iconography, the corazón, seduce us to discover an even more seductive identity, a cultural and historical foundation, mexicanidad.
    Benjamin H. D. Buchloh, Artforum, 1 June 2025
  • But prosecutors warned observers not to be seduced by soft appearances.
    Thomas Adamson, Chicago Tribune, 23 May 2025
Noun
  • The Biden administration sought to encourage manufacturers to build in the United States, but those efforts are still in their early stages, and many of the government incentives are now on the chopping block.
    Dan Gearino, Wired News, 31 May 2025
  • Margin Pressures Persist Due to the high interest and mortgage rates, many homebuilders have increased incentives and rate buydowns, which negatively impact margins.
    David Trainer, Forbes.com, 30 May 2025
Verb
  • The Navy also has spent considerably more than the others to entice sailors to reenlist, doling out retention bonuses to roughly 70,000 service members for each of the past three years.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 26 May 2025
  • Duffy recently announced a sweeping program to upgrade the agency's technology infrastructure, as well as hiring incentives to entice more would-be air traffic controllers.
    Zach Wichter, USA Today, 23 May 2025
Noun
  • Disney California Adventure Park’s Monsters, Inc. Mike & Sulley to the Rescue! attraction, based on the beloved Disney and Pixar film, will close to make room for the park's upcoming Avatar destination.
    Nathan Diller, USA Today, 7 June 2025
  • Things won’t always have the sizzle and spark of your early attraction.
    R. Eric Thomas, Denver Post, 7 June 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Lure.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lure. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on lure

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!