to seduce / tempt
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to seduce
To get someone, through persuasion or temptation, to do something that is considered unwise, immoral, or wrong. The action can also involve sexual intent.
Er ließ sich von seinen Freunden dazu verführen, die Schule zu schwänzen.
He let himself be seduced by his friends into skipping school.
The verb is made up of 'ver-' and 'führen' (to lead). 'Führen' means 'to guide' or 'to lead'. The prefix 'ver-' has a negative meaning here and suggests that someone is being led in the wrong or a bad direction.
Lass dich nicht von falschen Versprechungen verführen.
Don't let yourself be seduced by false promises.
'Verführen' (to seduce/tempt) is an inseparable verb. The prefix 'ver-' remains attached to the verb stem in all sentence forms and tenses.
Er hat seine Freunde zum Schwänzen verführt.
He seduced his friends into skipping school.
The action or thing that someone is seduced or tempted into is connected with the preposition 'zu' + dative. The person being seduced or tempted is in the accusative.
Die Werbung verführt die Menschen oft zum Kauf unnötiger Dinge.
Advertising often tempts people into buying unnecessary things.
In this meaning, the 'Verführer' (tempter) is often not a person, but something attractive such as a smell, a sight, or an offer. The action is usually not a morally bad act, but a small weakness.
Das Schaufenster verführte sie dazu, den Laden zu betreten.
The shop window tempted her to enter the store.
to try / taste
'versuchen' and 'verführen' can both mean that someone is brought into temptation. But this meaning of 'versuchen' is elevated and rare in everyday language. 'verführen' is much more common and stronger. It means that someone is made to do something unwise, wrong, or very tempting through persuasion, attraction, or a pleasant offer. It can also have a sexual meaning. Learners may confuse the words because 'Versuchung' (temptation) and 'verführen' are close in meaning. In practice: for normal language, you usually use 'verführen'; 'versuchen' in this sense sounds more literary or religious.
Der Duft von frischen Waffeln verführt viele Besucher dazu, eine Pause zu machen.
The smell of fresh waffles tempts many visitors to take a break.
Die Macht versuchte den jungen König mehr, als er erwartet hatte.
Power tempted the young king more than he had expected.