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
Hillary Kelly, The Atlantic, 5 May 2025
Except our bait is the comfortable sneakers that may as well be the only ones in the Catch & Release star’s closet: the Seavees Acorn Trainers.
—Alyssa Grabinski, People.com, 1 May 2025
Charlie Eccleshare, The Athletic, 24 Mar. 2025
His first assist for Arsenal was for Gabriel Martinelli away to Leicester City in February 2023 after baiting Harry Souttar with a stepover and nutmeg.
—Art De Roché, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bait
Noun
The possibility that the perfect parenting fix is just a click or two away has become just as addictive as any other handheld engagement bait.
—Hillary Kelly, The Atlantic, 5 May 2025
Except our bait is the comfortable sneakers that may as well be the only ones in the Catch & Release star’s closet: the Seavees Acorn Trainers.
—Alyssa Grabinski, People.com, 1 May 2025
Verb
The underarm serve: an effective strategy to exploit a deep returning position or a disrespectful trick shot used to bait and provoke your opponent?
—Charlie Eccleshare, The Athletic, 24 Mar. 2025
His first assist for Arsenal was for Gabriel Martinelli away to Leicester City in February 2023 after baiting Harry Souttar with a stepover and nutmeg.
—Art De Roché, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bait
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bait
Noun
-
The lure of Bayern is that Wirtz knows the Bundesliga inside out and if anything, joining a more dominant force will make his life easier.—
Phil Hay,
New York Times,
16 May 2025
-
Recruiters trick, lure, cajole, or simply abduct the children from their homes and send them across the country, where they are sold to the highest bidders.—
Elizabeth Dickinson,
Foreign Affairs,
8 May 2025
Noun
-
Defensive tackle Ed Oliver will be only 28 in 2026, but the team did just draft Sanders and has a potential out from Oliver’s deal in 2027, yielding $13 million in cap space that year, which might persuade them to resist the temptation of taking away some of that flexibility.—
Joe Buscaglia,
New York Times,
19 May 2025
-
The temptation among Democratic lawmakers will be to hunt for new revenue.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
15 May 2025
Verb
-
Soon, a malevolent fetch -- his ghostly double -- emerges, taunting him with hallucinations of his dead son and dragging him toward the brink of madness.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
22 May 2025
-
Noted, But Not Personal After the Pacers eliminated the Knicks last season, Myles Turner went viral for parading through New York City and taunting Knicks fans.—
Kristian Winfield,
New York Daily News,
19 May 2025
Verb
-
Users might be tempted to delay applying the update until there’s clarity from Microsoft, but often these reports are only seen afterward.—
Zak Doffman,
Forbes.com,
18 May 2025
-
One might be tempted to say that this dismissal is merely another episode in the grotesque sitcom that is Trumpian politics.—
Jack Hill,
Baltimore Sun,
17 May 2025
Noun
-
So organizations often fall into the trap of title inflation to retain or attract talent, which breeds entitlement, short-term thinking and cultures that don't support employees' well-being.—
Tonushree Mondal,
Forbes.com,
14 May 2025
-
There is no point in acting like Liverpool fans should be above the traps of tribalism and self-aggrandisement that all football fans fall into.—
James Pearce,
New York Times,
13 May 2025
Verb
-
For a long time, Burna Boy has been teasing a new album called No Sign of Weakness.—
Matthew Strauss,
Pitchfork,
22 May 2025
-
Joy Behar teased, snapping Goldberg out of her short snooze.—
Emlyn Travis Published,
EW.com,
22 May 2025
Verb
-
Sirens is smartest when paralleling the entitlement of 21st century American wealth with Ancient Greek divinity, skewering the insularity and entitlement of these modern plutocrats who throw galas to honor themselves and to torment or seduce the mortals who are their employees and playthings.—
Daniel Fienberg,
HollywoodReporter,
22 May 2025
-
This would suck capital investment back to America in a nanosecond and financially seduce companies to reshore factories, labs and headquarters back here with bargain-low tax rates.—
Stephen Moore,
Boston Herald,
14 May 2025
Noun
-
And yet, by hook or by crook, Black Americans took their education into their own hands.—
Karida L. Brown,
Essence,
21 May 2025
-
Start with a hook that grabs attention in the first 5-8 words.—
Jodie Cook,
Forbes.com,
21 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Bait.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bait. Accessed 27 May. 2025.
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