clickbait
noun
click·bait
ˈklik-ˌbāt 
: something (such as a headline) designed to make readers want to click on a hyperlink especially when the link leads to content of dubious value or interest
It is difficult to remember a time when you could scroll through the social media outlet of your choice and not be bombarded with: You'll never believe what happened when … This is the cutest thing ever … This the biggest mistake you can make … Take this quiz to see which character you are on … They are all classic clickbait models.—
Emily Shire
Emily ShireExamples of clickbait in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Their press releases were quickly picked up and repeated by both online clickbait media and mainstream media.
—Mark Boslough, Scientific American, 25 June 2025
The heart of the argument being that the correspondence had no place in the case except as tempting clickbait for Baldoni’s side.
—Dominic Patten, Deadline, 18 June 2025
Given that her involvement was licensing a song for the film, which 19 other artists also did, this document subpoena is designed to use Taylor Swift's name to draw public interest by creating tabloid clickbait instead of focusing on the facts of the case.
—Wesley Stenzel, EW.com, 15 May 2025
These are useful only to reporters looking for one-liner clickbait.
—Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 12 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for clickbait
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Mark Boslough, Scientific American, 25 June 2025
The heart of the argument being that the correspondence had no place in the case except as tempting clickbait for Baldoni’s side.
—Dominic Patten, Deadline, 18 June 2025
Given that her involvement was licensing a song for the film, which 19 other artists also did, this document subpoena is designed to use Taylor Swift's name to draw public interest by creating tabloid clickbait instead of focusing on the facts of the case.
—Wesley Stenzel, EW.com, 15 May 2025
These are useful only to reporters looking for one-liner clickbait.
—Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 12 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for clickbait
Cite this Entry
“Clickbait.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/clickbait. Accessed 8 Jul. 2025.
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