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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of bait
Marya E. Gates, IndieWire, 13 May 2026
Take the bait at Olde Castle Seafood Bar, a charming pub that’s been operating since the 1700s.
—David Dickstein, Oc Register, 13 May 2026
Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 20 Apr. 2026
Through the summer, my go-to bait for channel catfish is hot dogs soaked in Kool-Aid and garlic powder.
—Joe Cermele, Outdoor Life, 9 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for bait
Noun
Her attempts to keep surfing become inspiration bait.
—Marya E. Gates, IndieWire, 13 May 2026
Take the bait at Olde Castle Seafood Bar, a charming pub that’s been operating since the 1700s.
—David Dickstein, Oc Register, 13 May 2026
Verb
Officials will continue to investigate the area for further evidence of poison bait, and also stressed the importance of the community's cooperation to discourage and prevent the use of poison baits against wildlife.
—Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 20 Apr. 2026
Through the summer, my go-to bait for channel catfish is hot dogs soaked in Kool-Aid and garlic powder.
—Joe Cermele, Outdoor Life, 9 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for bait
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bait
Noun
-
Their lure for producers is hardly surprising given a recent study by the UK’s Publishers Association published in March that showed book adaptations had 57% higher box office revenue than non-adaptations for the 50 top grossing titles in the UK from 2020 to 2024.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
14 May 2026
-
Without the lure of prospective rents, who would know whether to build an apartment building, an office, or a factory, or where to site them?—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
13 May 2026
Noun
-
The temptation for that taking center stage in the South of France remains, however.—
Gregory Ellwood,
Los Angeles Times,
12 May 2026
-
The romantic energy is strong, but so is the temptation to avoid emotional clarity by joking your way through serious feelings.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
12 May 2026
Verb
-
This time around, a serial stalker hunts down men and women alike, taunting them with videos filmed of them and rhyming texts, the detectives trying to track potential victims and save them before they’re killed.—
Paul Tassi,
Forbes.com,
16 May 2026
-
Heck, every club’s supporters were taunting them this way.—
Daniel Taylor,
New York Times,
14 May 2026
Verb
-
Travelers may be tempted to chase clear skies at the last minute, but that strategy could be difficult if many others have the same idea on limited roads.—
David Nikel,
Forbes.com,
16 May 2026
-
There, the plan is for mid-size vehicles, but also products far smaller that can tempt some of Honda’s 6 million Indian motorcycle customers to trade up to something more expensive with twice as many wheels.—
Jonathan M. Gitlin,
ArsTechnica,
15 May 2026
Noun
-
The problem is, when your side lack intensity, aggression and cohesion, those traps are easy to spot and avoid.—
Carl Anka,
New York Times,
17 May 2026
-
The inspector also observed mouse droppings in multiple areas of the kitchen, like behind the grease trap and on dry storage shelves.—
Joseph Hernandez,
Kansas City Star,
16 May 2026
Verb
-
All the thespian’s chemistry felt less like castmates promoting a production and more like siblings teasing one another out of deep affection.—
Clayton Davis,
Variety,
18 May 2026
-
Rumors are flying that Google will unveil or tease its Gemini 4 AI model — and that's a big deal because the introduction of Gemini 3 in November was a huge success and sent shares rallying .—
Zev Fima,Kevin Stankiewicz,
CNBC,
17 May 2026
Verb
-
Picture yourself in a boat on the Riviera… Most rock superstars have been seduced by the glamor of the Cannes Film Festival at some point in their career.—
Damon Wise,
Deadline,
16 May 2026
-
This is her chance to seduce the audience as well as her onscreen co-star Callum Turner.—
Tracy Brown,
Los Angeles Times,
14 May 2026
Noun
-
Ruff’s quick hook paid off, and so did his other lineup changes.—
Matthew Fairburn,
New York Times,
17 May 2026
-
Among the stacks of beef boxes and red meat cuts hanging from metal hooks, chicken and pork are increasingly present.—
Clara Preve,
Fortune,
16 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bait.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bait. Accessed 18 May. 2026.
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