1
as in taunted
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
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2
as in tempted
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 baited
Claude, for example, wouldn’t be baited into partisan controversy.
—
Gideon Lewis-Kraus, New Yorker, 14 Mar. 2026
During Moore’s arrest, another officer baited him into making an incriminating statement, Judge Patton found at the preliminary hearing.
—Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 16 Feb. 2026
The meme coin reeks of a scam called a rug pull, in which followers are baited into buying the coin to boost its value, before the founder sells all their assets at a higher price.
—Frank Landymore, Futurism, 28 Jan. 2026
In the throes of a second-half rally, the Bears baited a hook — three tight ends plus an extra offensive lineman — to lure a heavy personnel package from the Packers’ defense.
—Dan Wiederer, New York Times, 27 Jan. 2026
They're known as problem crocodiles, though catching them is fairly easy, in cages baited with wild boar meat.
—Holly Williams, CBS News, 19 Jan. 2026
Traps can be baited with peanut butter, marshmallows, pet food, or other tidbits from your pantry.
—Lauren Landers, The Spruce, 7 Jan. 2026
Lozano successfully baited Portland’s Juan Mosquera into shoving him, prompting a red card to close the Timbers’ night of frustration.
—Kyle Kensing, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Nov. 2025
Fears baited Arkansas forward Malique Ewin into a pair of first-half fouls.
—Matt Byrne, Arkansas Online, 9 Nov. 2025
Gideon Lewis-Kraus, New Yorker, 14 Mar. 2026
During Moore’s arrest, another officer baited him into making an incriminating statement, Judge Patton found at the preliminary hearing.
—Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 16 Feb. 2026
The meme coin reeks of a scam called a rug pull, in which followers are baited into buying the coin to boost its value, before the founder sells all their assets at a higher price.
—Frank Landymore, Futurism, 28 Jan. 2026
In the throes of a second-half rally, the Bears baited a hook — three tight ends plus an extra offensive lineman — to lure a heavy personnel package from the Packers’ defense.
—Dan Wiederer, New York Times, 27 Jan. 2026
They're known as problem crocodiles, though catching them is fairly easy, in cages baited with wild boar meat.
—Holly Williams, CBS News, 19 Jan. 2026
Traps can be baited with peanut butter, marshmallows, pet food, or other tidbits from your pantry.
—Lauren Landers, The Spruce, 7 Jan. 2026
Lozano successfully baited Portland’s Juan Mosquera into shoving him, prompting a red card to close the Timbers’ night of frustration.
—Kyle Kensing, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Nov. 2025
Fears baited Arkansas forward Malique Ewin into a pair of first-half fouls.
—Matt Byrne, Arkansas Online, 9 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for baited
Verb
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Iza later taunted the victim by sending him a photograph of the arrest and booking photo.—
City News Service,
Daily News,
17 Mar. 2026
-
And they were taunted by the protesters, getting abused for no reason.—
Emma Rosenblum,
Curbed,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
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After failing to score in three consecutive league games, Farke must be tempted to tweak the system.—
Beren Cross,
New York Times,
20 Mar. 2026
-
After 48 years of unsuccessful politicking, one might be tempted to call the idea of indexing capital gains a certified washout.—
Business Columnist,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Research from groups like the Intercultural Development Research Association and Arizona State University found that Black students are more likely to report being teased or discriminated against for their natural hair, compared to their non-Black classmates.—
Noelle Lilley,
CBS News,
16 Mar. 2026
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The announcement comes after a weeklong social media campaign fronted by Fillion and Tudyk that teased news about the future of the beloved series.—
Shania Russell,
Entertainment Weekly,
15 Mar. 2026
Verb
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That modest notoriety, combined with the macabre nature of the deed and its unsolved status for decades, lured the filmmaker into an extended investigation — the end result being this feature.—
Dennis Harvey,
Variety,
14 Mar. 2026
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According to the charging documents, two security guards were lured outside by the sound of explosives into the line of fire, and an Alvarado Police Department officer who was at the scene answering a disturbance call was shot in the neck but survived.—
Mia Cathell,
The Washington Examiner,
13 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The fact that the team is almost entirely composed of Americans with Italian heritage is by now well-known and lovingly mocked on both sides of the Atlantic.—
Sara Germano,
Sportico.com,
13 Mar. 2026
-
Quotas, speech codes and identity politics now mocked as woke and un-American, often defied common sense.—
Maurice O'Sullivan,
The Orlando Sentinel,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Sammy, a troubled 13-year-old, secretly enlists against his mother’s wishes — seduced by promises of purpose, patriotism, and notoriety.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
12 Mar. 2026
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They were shocked and horrified—and yet entirely seduced.—
Danielle Parker,
CBS News,
8 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Carr allegedly groomed the boy and enticed him into sharing nude video and photo images.—
Louis Casiano,
FOXNews.com,
14 Mar. 2026
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Google and Range Media Partners are getting serious about microdramas — and have enticed some heavyweight Hollywood producers to make these bite-sized stories for them.—
Katie Kilkenny,
HollywoodReporter,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The jury appears to have been persuaded by prosecutors’ argument that the defendants were members of an antifa cell connected to an ideology that calls for the overthrow of the government.—
Emerson Clarridge
Updated March 13,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
14 Mar. 2026
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Jorge Perez, who has helped shape South Florida’s skyline as Related’s founder and CEO, had to be persuaded to invest in the town named for a fish.—
Susannah Bryan,
Sun Sentinel,
14 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Baited.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/baited. Accessed 21 Mar. 2026.
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