seductress

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Thân thiện
Definition

Noun: A woman who deliberately entices or leads someone, typically a man, into sexual activity or a romantic relationship, often through charm, allure, or manipulation.

Usage

The word "seductress" specifically describes a female person whose primary characteristic or action is seduction. It carries connotations of deliberate intent, powerful allure, and often a degree of danger or moral transgression. It is typically used in a literary, dramatic, or critical context.

Examples
  • In the classic myth, Circe is portrayed as a seductress who turns men into swine.
  • The film noir featured a classic seductress who used her charms to manipulate the wealthy businessman.
  • He was completely enthralled by the mysterious seductress he met at the party.
Advanced Usage
  • Archetypal Figure: In literature and art, the "seductress" is a common archetype, representing forbidden desire, feminine power, and the peril of temptation (e.g., Cleopatra, Salome).
  • Modern/Critical Usage: In contemporary discourse, the term can be viewed critically as a gendered stereotype that reduces a woman's agency or complexity to her sexual power over men.
Variants and Related Words
  • Seduce (verb): To entice or lead someone into sexual activity or a wrong course of action.
  • Seduction (noun): The act or process of seducing someone; something that is attractive and tempting.
  • Seductive (adjective): Tempting and attractive; enticing.
  • Seducer (noun): A person who seduces someone (gender-neutral, though often implies a male).
Synonyms
  • Temptress: A woman who tempts someone, especially into sexual activity or sin. (Very close synonym, often used interchangeably.)
  • Enchantress: A woman who uses magic or charm to captivate someone. (Emphasizes a magical or spellbinding quality.)
  • Femme fatale: A woman of irresistible allure who leads men into dangerous or compromising situations. (A more specific trope, often implying dire consequences.)
Antonyms
  • Ingénue: An innocent or unsophisticated young woman.
  • Prude: A person who is excessively concerned with propriety or modesty.
Idioms and Phrases
  • Play the seductress: To deliberately adopt the role or behavior of a seductress.
    • For the scene, the actress had to play the seductress, luring the hero into a trap.
Noun
  1. a woman who seduces