lead on

verb

Definition of lead onnext
as in to tempt
to lead away from a usual or proper course by offering some pleasure or advantage a con man whose dupes are usually led on by their own greed and eagerness to turn an easy buck

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Examples Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for lead on
  1. tempt
  2. lure
  3. seduce
  4. persuade
  5. entice
Verb
  • All of this excitement may tempt you to place some bets on what will happen — but is that actually a good idea?
    Becca Stanek, theweek, 6 Nov. 2024
  • Ammon did appear tempted to talk the walk in Portland, to become the Mormon cowboy philosopher king wandering a degenerate realm of an ailing Republic, but by now time was in extremely short supply.
    Matt Thompson, SPIN, 5 Nov. 2024
Definition of tempt
Verb
  • Over the past two years, there have been episodic reports of Cuban, Indian, and Nepalese soldiers and volunteers lured to fight for Russia.
    Michael Kimmage, Foreign Affairs, 7 Nov. 2024
  • Similarly, Indian nationals are said to have been lured to Russia to work various jobs in services, before being sent to the frontlines.
    Dr. Ewelina U. Ochab, Forbes, 1 Nov. 2024
Definition of lure
Verb
  • Cruel Intentions follows the elite students of Manchester College, where two ruthless step-siblings will do anything to stay on top of the cutthroat social hierarchy, including seducing the daughter of the vice-president of the United States.
    Anne Victoria Clark, Vulture, 12 Nov. 2024
  • Police later learned that the prisoners had seduced the seamstress as a part of their escape plot.
    Emily Blackwood, People.com, 24 Oct. 2024
Definition of seduce
Verb
  • Few modern artists do so much to persuade us that creative endeavor is a struggle—an anxious wrestling with the stubborn materials to hand, and a determination to plow on.
    Anthony Lane, The New Yorker, 21 Nov. 2024
  • Will that be enough to persuade these justices to strike down Tennessee’s law?
    Ian Millhiser, Vox, 15 Nov. 2024
Definition of persuade
Verb
  • This approach also allows businesses to adopt next-generation capabilities without overwhelming their existing infrastructure or processes as an organization, enticing your organization to continue with transformation along the way.
    Josh Ashby, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024
  • At jewelry houses, timepieces offered male clients a reason to treat themselves while buying baubles for their significant others, or they were seen as a mass-marketing tool, a means of enticing clients who might not be able to afford a million-dollar high-jewelry necklace or five-figure handbag.
    Paige Reddinger, Robb Report, 2 Nov. 2024
Definition of entice
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Thesaurus Entries Near lead on

leadoff

lead on

lead one down the garden path

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Lead on.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lead%20on. Accessed 25 Nov. 2024.

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