BAITED Synonyms: 112 Similar and Opposite Words

baited

verb

past tense of bait

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

Relevance

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

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of baited The federal agency detailed removal efforts on its website, including traps baited with eggs and trackers to lure tegus and study their movements. — Rylan Digiacomo-Rapp, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 July 2026 Spurs center Victor Wembanyama baited Towns and Knicks center Mitchell Robinson into fouls. — Mark Medina, Forbes.com, 11 June 2026 There are baited Japanese beetle traps, but research at the University of Kentucky shows that the traps attract many more beetles than are actually caught. — Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 30 May 2026 After Holmgren baited Hauser into a foul — deja vu from the final seconds of C’s-Thunder Round 1 — Baylor Scheierman replaced him and buried two quick triples, the second putting the Celtics up 74-73. — Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 26 Mar. 2026 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

Recent Examples of Synonyms for baited

Verb

Jerry Rice wasn't about to ignore a heckler Thursday, as the NFL Hall of Famer charged into the gallery during the American Century Championship after a fan taunted him at Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course in South Lake Tahoe.

— Alejandro Avila OutKick, FOXNews.com, 17 July 2026
The actor taunted his kids over their expectations of the couples.

— Leigh Blickley, Entertainment Weekly, 9 July 2026

Definition of taunted

Verb

Before that, in a trend which lasts to this day, the very best players were always tempted away, to Italy or Spain, towards salaries that German football could never provide.

— James Pearce, New York Times, 22 July 2026
The economic argument for central bank independence rests on the idea that a politically motivated central bank might be tempted to exploit that short run tradeoff to juice the economy at the long run expense of price stability.

— Steve Liesman, CNBC, 22 July 2026

Definition of tempted

Verb

Instead of treating her and Povich’s pregnancy struggles with care, the pair were widely mocked in the media and on late-night shows, including on In Living Color, which had premiered on Fox in 1990.

— Victoria Edel, PEOPLE, 22 July 2026
Fans rightfully mocked the dancing cars mounted on robot arms that played during an inexplicable diversion on Universal Studios Hollywood’s Studio Tour.

— Robert Niles, Oc Register, 21 July 2026

Definition of mocked

Verb

That book is a revenge fantasy about the former art school professor who seduced her, discarded her and destroyed her confidence as a painter.

— The Week UK, TheWeek, 2 July 2026
So instead of Syrax, the Blacks get close air support from Jace on Vermax and Moondancer, ridden by Baela, who is easily seduced into battle by Jace’s unchecked hero complex.

— Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 22 June 2026

Definition of seduced

Verb

That's cranking up the pressure for local officials, who are often enticed by the opportunity for new revenue generation but have been slammed by public opposition.

— Marissa Meador, IndyStar, 17 July 2026
West’s post-football potential was what enticed the Blackhawks to trade up to take the a 6-foot-6, 216-pounder.

— Scott Powers, New York Times, 13 July 2026