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
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
After Brock Purdy snuck for two yards and a first down, the quarter ended and the 49ers had baited the hook.
—Jerry McDonald, Mercury News, 14 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
Thus, complementary approaches such as acoustic monitoring, baited remote cameras, and tagging studies, are still needed to build an accurate understanding of shark populations and movements.
—Melissa Cristina Márquez, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2025
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
After Brock Purdy snuck for two yards and a first down, the quarter ended and the 49ers had baited the hook.
—Jerry McDonald, Mercury News, 14 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
Thus, complementary approaches such as acoustic monitoring, baited remote cameras, and tagging studies, are still needed to build an accurate understanding of shark populations and movements.
—Melissa Cristina Márquez, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for baited
Verb
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Raiklin calmly taunted Fanone for needing to be restrained.—
Brian Niemietz,
Mercury News,
23 Jan. 2026
-
Why do fans continuing need to be taunted during a game to place a bet?—
Jim Bowden,
New York Times,
13 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Popular LLMs lean left, and as the technology reaches more classrooms, companies, regulators, and legislators will be tempted to entrench that bias.—
Jonah Davids,
Washington Post,
3 Feb. 2026
-
Lies feeling personally victimized yet weirdly tempted to rewatch the mess all over again!—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
3 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Cosmetics Embark has teased two new cosmetic sets, including the Sandwalker Set pictured above.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
-
The new song functions as both artists’ first release of the year and comes after Fred teased a full minute of it last month.—
Katie Bain,
Billboard,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
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As the minutes tick away to the campaign deadline, however, chatter has grown that he could be lured back into the race.—
Seth Abramovitch,
HollywoodReporter,
6 Feb. 2026
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Current and former gang members have long come to Homeboy Industries to get their lives back on track, in part lured by their trust in Father Greg Boyle, a Jesuit priest who founded the nonprofit nearly 40 years ago.—
Andrew Khouri,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Mexican authorities and fellow journalists say López Serrano likely ordered the hit because the journalist had mocked the young narco mercilessly in Ríodoce, the weekly co-founded by Valdez.—
Foreign Correspondent,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Feb. 2026
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Continue reading … LOGGED OFF – Harris mocked for 'cringe' social media rebrand attempt after failed White House bid.—
,
FOXNews.com,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Pine seduced Roper away from Corky [Roper’s fixer, played by Tom Hollander, who was killed off in season one].—
Max Gao,
HollywoodReporter,
3 Feb. 2026
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Since the dawn of time, the romance of railways has seduced poets, spellbound novelists, and dealt directors the perfect hand for capturing fleeting friendships, illicit affairs, and all manner of crimes and capers.—
Arati Menon,
Condé Nast Traveler,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
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At Morgan Stanley, Gorman and the board selected Ted Pick to become CEO … but the other two internal candidates were each given promotions, and enticed to stay as well.—
Alex Weprin,
HollywoodReporter,
3 Feb. 2026
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That was the appetizer, as a year later, in 2022, Pitaro enticed Joe Buck and Troy Aikman from Fox — arguably the top NFL combo on air — on a pair of five-year deals for $75 million and $90 million, respectively.—
Andrew Marchand,
New York Times,
2 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Stephanie Martin, a breakfast station cook at the Gaylord Rockies Resort and Convention Center, was persuaded to participate by Brian Reese, the resort’s sous chef and last year’s people’s choice winner.—
Miguel Otárola,
Denver Post,
6 Feb. 2026
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Authoritative, sonorous and compelling, his is the voice that persuaded millions that the Martians had landed in Grover’s Mills, New Jersey in The War of the Worlds.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
5 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Baited.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/baited. Accessed 9 Feb. 2026.
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