1
as in lure
something used to attract animals to a hook or into a trap
cheese is the traditional bait for trapping mice
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in temptation
something that persuades one to perform an action for pleasure or gain
the promise of free vacation is surefire bait to get people to agree to be chaperones for school trips
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to taunt
to attack repeatedly with mean put-downs or insults
I wished the candidates would stop baiting each other and instead address the real issues
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in to lure
to lead away from a usual or proper course by offering some pleasure or advantage
the investment scheme cunningly baits the greedy and the unscrupulous
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of bait
Kurt Knutsson, Cyberguy Report, Fox News, 18 Jan. 2025
Newsom won’t take the bait Thankfully, Newsom refuses to respond in kind.
—Sabrina Haake, Chicago Tribune, 18 Jan. 2025
Eddie Pells, Chicago Tribune, 4 Jan. 2025
For some, the video is an example of people baiting wildlife with perilous consequences.
—Defne Karabatur, Los Angeles Times, 30 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for bait
Noun
Scammers often target jobseekers randomly, hoping someone takes the bait.
—Kurt Knutsson, Cyberguy Report, Fox News, 18 Jan. 2025
Newsom won’t take the bait Thankfully, Newsom refuses to respond in kind.
—Sabrina Haake, Chicago Tribune, 18 Jan. 2025
Verb
Marty Biagi is in charge of the special teams unit that returned a kickoff for a touchdown, kicked three field goals and baited Georgia into a key offsides penalty in the fourth quarter by quickly subbing out its entire punt team for the offense on fourth-and-1.
—Eddie Pells, Chicago Tribune, 4 Jan. 2025
For some, the video is an example of people baiting wildlife with perilous consequences.
—Defne Karabatur, Los Angeles Times, 30 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for bait
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bait
Noun
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Plus, of course, there’s the simple fact that the siren-song lure of Thailand’s on-screen beauty will be impossible for any viewer to resist.—
Liam Hess,
Vogue,
15 Feb. 2025
-
The lure of Saudi investment deals In contrast to Syria, Trump is eager to work closely with Saudi Arabia.—
Greg Myre,
NPR,
12 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Robert Kagan: Trump is facing a catastrophic defeat in Ukraine Europeans and Americans, Democrats and Republicans, can resist the temptations of boredom and distraction.—
Anne Applebaum,
The Atlantic,
24 Feb. 2025
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For many, the temptation is to throw up their hands in frustration, but giving in to hopelessness is not an option.—
Marybeth Gasman,
Forbes,
24 Feb. 2025
Verb
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The social media war shifted when Lyles taunted Hill after winning the 60-meter race at the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix earlier this month.—
Paulina Dedaj,
Fox News,
15 Feb. 2025
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Investigators said that before he was arrested, Tabler called the Bell County Sheriff’s Office to taunt deputies about the murders and threatened to kill more employees and undercover law enforcement at the strip club.—
Jim Vertuno and Michael Graczyk,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Light wood beams and moldings, thick rugs underfoot, and minimalist furnishings tempt even the most dedicated skiers to stay indoors.—
Rachel Fletcher,
Architectural Digest,
22 Feb. 2025
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In my interpretation, I am tempted to see a lesson in holding on to things more tightly, in keeping better track, in cherishing harder.—
Melissa Kirsch,
New York Times,
22 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Many business owners fall into the trap of believing that busyness is the same as being productive.—
Melissa Houston,
Forbes,
19 Feb. 2025
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Another slice of the trailer appears to be showing a chain of explosions going off, indicating that players might be able to set up more complex traps or breaches than currently.—
Josh Hammer,
Newsweek,
17 Feb. 2025
Verb
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The thought that Sam Riley’s Tom might turn out to be Fred MacMurray in Double Indemnity or John Garfield in The Postman Always Rings Twice is tantalizing but gradually appears to be more like teasing misdirection as the movie shifts into psychodrama gear.—
David Rooney,
The Hollywood Reporter,
16 Feb. 2025
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Leighton, who played Sydney Andrews in the show, also teased what viewers could expect from the new series.—
Erin Clack,
People.com,
16 Feb. 2025
Verb
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In the costume drama based on Guy de Maupassant’s 1885 novel of the same name, Pattinson portrayed an ambitious and amoral social striver, a former soldier who seeks to improve his fortunes by seducing the wives (played by Christina Ricci, Uma Thurman and Kristin Scott Thomas) of powerful men.—
Kevin Cassidy,
The Hollywood Reporter,
15 Feb. 2025
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His evolution from a homeless teen seducing girls on his friends’ couches into an international pop star with one foot in Hollywood and the other atop the Billboard charts has been a circuitous one filled with pitfalls — and some of the catchiest tunes of the century.—
Matthew Ismael Ruiz,
Vulture,
12 Feb. 2025
Noun
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What if a Democratic president had gotten the mayor off the hook?—
Jay Nordlinger,
National Review,
13 Feb. 2025
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Johnny's not letting him off the hook and Kreese isn't asking to be let off the hook.—
Kristen Baldwin,
EW.com,
13 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Bait.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bait. Accessed 1 Mar. 2025.
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