noun
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the act of seducing or the state of being seduced
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a means of seduction
Usage
What does seduction 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.
Etymology
Origin of seduction
First recorded in 1520–30; from Latin sēductiōn-, stem of sēductiō “a leading aside,” from sēduct(us) “led aside” (past participle of sēdūcere “to lead aside”; see seduce) + -iō -ion
Explanation
Use the noun seduction when you're talking about a devious kind of persuasion, in which you cajole or charm someone into going along with your evil plan. You can also use seduction to mean a romantic attraction, especially if one person sets out to attract the other. The Latin root is seducere, "lead away or lead astray." Originally, seduction only referred to a man enticing a woman into romance, and not the other way around.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
John Rogers was convicted of a lesser charge in a case that featured spycraft, online seduction and a blackmail scam.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 17, 2026
“Of the seven deadly sins, all but sloth emerge from the seduction that beckons.”
From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 8, 2024
What initially seems like seduction begins to feel like sedation, and the movie nearly loses itself in its drowsy rhythm.
From Salon • Sep. 28, 2024
Why is it that unappealing rich guys like former President Donald Trump and Harvey Weinstein all seem to employ the same seduction technique?
From Seattle Times • May 10, 2024
“And that, to me, is the terrible seduction of Dionysiac ritual. Hard for us to imagine. That fire of pure being.”
From "The Secret History" by Donna Tartt
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
