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Enticing means having the effect of attracting, tempting, or drawing people in.

Things that are described as enticing produce desire or attraction. The word is especially used to describe things that appeal to the senses. But something can be enticing for other reasons, as in The job offer was enticing due to the big salary increase, but I didn’t think the work would be fulfilling.��

The adjective enticing comes from the continuous tense (-ing form) of the verb entice, meaning to attract, allure, or tempt. (Entice is sometimes confused with the verb incite, which means to encourage, urge, prompt, or provoke someone to do something, especially something bad. Incite is usually used more negatively than entice.)

Something that’s described as enticing is viewed as positive and desirous by the person whom it has enticed, but the word itself sometimes implies that such a thing serves to tempt people to do something that perhaps they shouldn’t, as in That chocolate is enticing, but I vowed to give up sweets for a while.

Example: The enticing aroma of the roasted nuts draws people to the street cart.

The first records of enticing as an adjective come from the 1500s. The base word, entice, is recorded earlier, in the 1200s. It comes from the Vulgar Latin verb ���Գپ��پ������, which means “to incite” and derives from the Latin �پ��پ�ō, “piece of burning wood.”

Fittingly, the scent, sound, and warm glow of a crackling fire make it enticing—they draw us in. The similar word alluring can be used to mean the same thing, and also sometimes implies that such a thing is tempting us to do the wrong thing. The word seductive implies this even more strongly. But things that are enticing can be very good—fresh vegetables can be enticing, and your bed can look enticing at the end of a long day.

What are some other forms related to enticing?

• entice (verb)
• enticingly (adverb)
• enticingness (noun)
• nonenticing (adjective)

What are some synonyms for enticing?

• tempting
• alluring
• inviting
• attractive
• seductive

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

• aroma
• offer
• smell
• scent
• sound
• sight
• attract

Enticing is often used to describe things that appeal to the senses, especially good smells and delicious-looking foods.

. considers the enticing smell of new and old books

— Chemistry World (@ChemistryWorld)

Toasted coconut? Looks so enticing

— Ah, (@Remote_Interior)

Not very enticing.

— James North (@James_North)

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Which of the following words is NOT a synonym for enticing?

A. inviting
B. alluring
C. appalling
D. appealing