bait

verb

\ ˈbāt

baited; baiting; baits

Definition of bait

(Entry 1 of 2)

1a : to persecute or exasperate with unjust, malicious, or persistent attacks bait minority groups : to try to make angry with criticism or insults baiting a politician during a debate

b : tease

2a : to harass (a chained animal, such as a bear) with dogs usually for sport

b : to attack by biting and tearing dogs baiting a fox

3a : to furnish with bait (see bait entry 2) bait a fishing line bait a trap

b : entice, lure baiting prospective buyers

4 : to give food and drink to (an animal) especially on the road

intransitive verb

archaic : to stop for food and rest when traveling

bait

noun

Definition of bait (Entry 2 of 2)

1a : something (such as food) used in luring especially to a hook or trap using worms for bait

b : a poisonous material placed where it will be eaten by harmful or objectionable animals

2 : lure, temptation using bargains as bait for shoppers

Other Words from bait Synonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about bait

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Synonyms for bait

Synonyms: Verb

hassle, haze, heckle, needle, ride, taunt, tease

Synonyms: Noun

decoy, lure

Choose the Right Synonym for bait

Verb

bait, badger, heckle, hector, chivy, hound mean to harass by efforts to break down. bait implies wanton cruelty or delight in persecuting a helpless victim. baited the chained dog badger implies pestering so as to drive a person to confusion or frenzy. badgered her father for a car heckle implies persistent annoying or belligerent interruptions of a speaker. drunks heckled the stand-up comic hector carries an implication of bullying and domineering. football players hectored by their coach chivy suggests persecution by teasing or nagging. chivied the new student mercilessly hound implies unrelenting pursuit and harassing. hounded by creditors

Examples of bait in a Sentence

Verb

baiting hooks with live worms The interviewer kept baiting the politician by asking him whether he was lying.

Noun

cheese used for bait in mousetraps Wait until the fish takes the bait. a wide selection of lures and baits

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

Only about 4 inches in length, this predator was attracted to traps baited with mackerel. — Ashley Strickland, CNN, "Meet the top 10 new species of 2018," 23 May 2018 The irony of Disney canning Roseanne while continuing to employ some of the industries biggest racist and race baiting frauds like Jemele Hill, Bomani Jones, Steve A Smith is not lost on most. — William Cummings, USA TODAY, "Here is a list of people who have come to Roseanne Barr's defense," 30 May 2018 That's a once in a lifetime experience where the shark was not baited and thus was super chill. — Jennifer Earl, Fox News, "16-foot great white shark comes within 'arm's length' of underwater photographer," 24 Aug. 2018 Becca did not have to deal with being baited with real time questions about her emotions watching certain scenes. — Christopher Rosa, Glamour, "Rachel Lindsay Says She's a 'Little Pissed Off' About Becca Kufrin's Bachelorette Ending," 7 Aug. 2018 In February, Howard created headlines getting baited into guaranteeing a playoff berth on a light-hearted NFL Network segment. — David Haugh, chicagotribune.com, "Quietly, emerging leader Jordan Howard catching onto Bears' new offense," 31 May 2018 First, North Korea comes out as the big winner by baiting Trump into canceling the meeting and having broken maximum pressure with its outreach to China. — Sean Illing, Vox, "Trump just canceled the North Korea summit. 9 experts explain what happens now.," 24 May 2018 The difference between LeBron's relief and resentment came from a Green post-up, a Love jumper and Hill's ability to bait defenders into fouls. — Rob Mahoney, SI.com, "In LeBron James's—Very Short—Absence, the Cavs Show Us Who They Can Be," 29 Apr. 2018 Another reason is that Jared Goff paid close attention to the body language and mechanical nuances that are important for baiting a defense on screens. — Andy Benoit, SI.com, "The NFL’s Most Dynamic Team? 10 Thoughts on the 2018 Rams," 18 June 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

Anyway, none of the baseball players would kind of take the bait on the question. — Fox News, "New data reveals US faces legal immigration crisis," 22 May 2018 Wright was the bait for a sting operation designed to capture drug and gun offenders. — Chris Jones, chicagotribune.com, "'To Catch a Fish' is about a shocking, real-life Milwaukee case of a man used as an ATF pawn," 10 May 2018 There’s a decent chance the rooks at the park simply won’t take the bait, and the park’s management will be stuck with some useless high-tech bird feeders. — Avery Thompson, Popular Mechanics, "We're About to Find Out If Crows Can Help Solve Our Litter Problem," 14 Aug. 2018 Zwolinski married, had kids and worked in maintenance at Allen-Bradley for 33 years before opening a bait and tackle shop in Cudahy. — Jim Stingl, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Stingl: Marine's long-lost painting turns up at a scrap dealer, but the owner won't let it go," 29 June 2018 Croakers, members of the redfish and speckled trout family, are considered bycatch when shrimpers are harvesting bait and table fare. — Ralph Winingham, San Antonio Express-News, "Croaker season lights up speckled trout action at Baffin Bay," 28 June 2018 Chinook can be caught on a variety of baits and lures. — Jordan Rodriguez, idahostatesman, "Chinook season in Idaho about to hit full stride. Here's the scouting report," 22 June 2018 Blue Catfish - fair on cut bait and crappie entrails. — Tyler Mahoney Special To The Star, kansascity, "Fishing report: Nineteen-pound channel cat caught at Wyandotte," 6 June 2018 There are other lakefront resorts, paint peeling from signs advertising boat rentals and bait and cable TV. — Pam Mandel, Longreads, "Exodus in the Ozarks," 5 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'bait.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.