inveigle
C2formal
Definition
Meaning
to persuade someone to do something by means of deception or flattery.
To gain or achieve by clever manipulation, often through enticing or subtly artful persuasion.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The word inherently implies guile and indirect, often unscrupulous methods of persuasion. It suggests a smoother, more insidious approach than coercion.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No major spelling or usage differences. The word is equally formal and rare in both varieties.
Connotations
Identical connotations of artful, often deceptive persuasion.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in both varieties, slightly more likely in formal British prose (e.g., political commentary).
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
inveigle + object + into + -inginveigle + object + out of + noun phraseVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Inveigle one's way into (something)”
- “Inveigle something out of someone”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare; might appear in contexts describing unethical sales tactics or corporate espionage: 'He inveigled the confidential data out of a junior analyst.'
Academic
Used in literary criticism or historical analysis describing manipulative characters or political machinations.
Everyday
Virtually never used in casual conversation.
Technical
Not used in technical fields.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- He managed to inveigle his way into the exclusive club.
- She was inveigled into investing in the dubious scheme.
American English
- The lobbyist tried to inveigle the senator into supporting the bill.
- They inveigled the password out of the new intern.
adverb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adjective
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The salesman tried to inveigle us into buying a warranty we didn't need.
- With flattery and false promises, she inveigled her way onto the board of directors.
- He inveigled the secret recipe out of the aging chef.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a VEIL (sounds like 'veigle'). Someone uses a 'veil' of charm or deception to IN-VEIL-GLE (inveigle) you into doing something.
Conceptual Metaphor
PERSUASION IS A TRAP / PERSUASION IS DECEPTION.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'внушить' (to inspire/implant) which lacks the deceptive element. The closest concept is 'обманом уговорить' or 'улестить' (colloquial).
Common Mistakes
- Mispronouncing as /ɪnˈviː.ɡəl/ (like 'vigil').
- Using it for simple, honest persuasion.
- Incorrect valency: 'He inveigled her to go' (should be 'inveigled her into going').
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'inveigle' correctly?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, it inherently involves dishonesty, flattery, or trickery. It is not used for honest persuasion.
Rarely. It is almost always transitive, requiring a direct object (the person being persuaded).
It comes from the Old French 'aveugler' meaning 'to blind, to deceive', itself from the Latin 'ab oculis' ('lacking eyes').
No, it is a formal, low-frequency word (C2 level). It is most often encountered in literary or formal descriptive writing.