Enticing
adjective /ɪnˈtaɪsɪŋ/ — Attractively pulling — luring toward something with the promise of reward.
Definition
Attracting by arousing hope or desire; tempting; especially, drawing one toward something through the appeal of what it offers.
Beyond the definition
Enticing is the word for the pull that's slightly calculated — the enticing prospect has been arranged to attract. It differs from accidentally beautiful; the enticing is deliberately presented. The word carries a trace of arrangement and offer.
Origin & history
From Old French enticier — to stir up (from Latin titio: firebrand). The image is of lighting a fire — the enticing thing kindles something in you. Desire as kindled.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
The menu description was enticing — she could taste the dish from the adjectives alone.
The job offer was enticing enough that she began, despite herself, to imagine accepting it.
Enticing people into complex systems is the art of every great institution and every great confidence game.
How to use it
This entry uses an adjective. Follow the examples for the nouns it describes and its position in the sentence.
Choose “Enticing” when the meaning fits your context: Attracting by arousing hope or desire; tempting; especially, drawing one toward something through the appeal of what it offers.
Synonyms
Antonyms
repellent, unappealing, off-putting
Related words
Word in the Wild
See how this word appears in life, language and stories.
Illustrative sentences and imagined stories for learning — not verified sightings, interviews, or sourced quotations.
Fictional scene
Hidden garden meeting in moonlight
An adult stands in the shadowed corner of a moonlit garden, waiting with an expectant, tense posture.
The urgency and secrecy of the meeting draw one toward the space, arousing the desire to know what is hidden and what the tryst might offer.
Image credit: Wordspun · AI-generated conceptual illustration
Questions about this word
What does "Enticing" mean?
Enticing is adjective meaning: Attractively pulling — luring toward something with the promise of reward.. Attracting by arousing hope or desire; tempting; especially, drawing one toward something through the appeal of what it offers.
Where does the word "Enticing" come from?
From Old French enticier — to stir up (from Latin titio: firebrand). The image is of lighting a fire — the enticing thing kindles something in you. Desire as kindled.