˜yÐÄvlog

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View synonyms for

seduction

[ si-duhk-shuhn ]

noun

  1. an act or instance of seducing, especially sexually.
  2. the condition of being seduced.
  3. a means of seducing; enticement; temptation.


seduction

/ ²õɪˈ»åÊŒ°ìʃə²Ô /

noun

  1. the act of seducing or the state of being seduced
  2. a means of seduction
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged†2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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˜yÐÄvlog History and Origins

Origin of seduction1

First recorded in 1520–30; from Latin ²õŧ»å³Ü³¦³Ù¾±Å²Ô-, stem of ²õŧ»å³Ü³¦³Ù¾±Å “a leading aside,†from ²õŧ»å³Ü³¦³Ù(³Ü²õ) “led aside†(past participle of ²õŧ»åÅ«³¦±ð°ù±ð “to lead asideâ€; seduce ) + -¾±Å -ion
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Example Sentences

Her work doesn’t begin with theory or concept but with her body and her many surprising musical seductions.

From

As for his talent for seduction, I think it was a blend of deep-seated insecurities and the kind of charm that comes with being a former rock star.

From

“Of the seven deadly sins, all but sloth emerge from the seduction that beckons.â€

From

For Tinashe, the incongruity of being the kind of person who has their Zoom camera off a day after they sang about seduction, repulsion and red flags in front of thousands seems the entire point.

From

What initially seems like seduction begins to feel like sedation, and the movie nearly loses itself in its drowsy rhythm.

From

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About This ˜yÐÄvlog

What doesÌýseduction mean?

Seduction is the act of making someone want to engage in sexual activity with you, especially in a subtle or manipulative way.

Seduction is also commonly used in a more general way meaning the act of tempting or influencing someone to do something, especially something bad or something they wouldn’t normally do. Though this sense of the word does not involve sex, it’s still often thought of as a metaphor for the type of seduction that does.

Both senses of the word often imply a subtle manipulation in which one’s motives are hidden.

Seduction is the noun form of the verb seduce. People or things that seduce or that are capable of seduction are said to be seductive.

Example: Don’t be fooled by his charm and his seduction—he only wants one thing.

Where doesÌýseduction come from?

The first records of the word seduction come from the 1520s. It ultimately comes from the Latin verb ²õŧ»åÅ«³¦±ð°ù±ð, meaning “to lead aside.†(The root »åÅ«³¦±ð°ù±ð also forms the basis of words like induce, produce, and reduce.) The verb seduce is recorded earlier, in the 1470s, and its original use referred to persuading a soldier or servant to desert or change sides. From there, it began to be used in a more general way to refer to influencing someone to do something wrong. Only later did it come to be used in reference to making someone want to have sex.

Today, this is the most commonly used meaning of seduction—and the meaning that’s associated with just about every use of the word, even when it is used more generally. James Bond is notorious for his seduction of women. This type of seduction is typically thought to be achieved by making yourself irresistible through the way you act or the things you say.

The more general sense of seduction involves leading someone astray or luring them in. The goal is typically to get them to do something corrupt or at least something they wouldn’t normally do. In Star Wars, villains are always using the art of seduction to try to get people to cross over to the dark side. But it’s not only people who seduce. Sometimes, a person is said to have been lured by the seduction of money or success. Advertising is sometimes described as a form of seduction with the goal of persuading people to buy a product.

Did you know ... ?

What are some other forms of seduction?

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What are some synonyms for seduction?

What are some words that share a root or word element with seduction?Ìý

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What are some words that often get used in discussing seduction?

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How isÌýseduction used in real life?

Seduction often has a somewhat negative connotation that implies that such actions are devious and manipulative. It’s very commonly used in reference to sex, but it’s also commonly used in a general way.

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Try usingÌýseduction!

Is seduction used correctly in the following sentence?

His seduction is based on lies and empty promises.

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