1
as in taunting
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 tempting
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 baiting
Ross Andersen, The Atlantic, 7 Sep. 2025
Exclude ants by baiting them at the base of your specimen infested with the fungus or apply Vaseline to the trunk of the tree or branches of the shrub in a two-inch wide band.
—Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 15 Aug. 2025
On the ball, Maresca’s preference is for his side to build with short passes from his goalkeeper, often with the aim of baiting opponents into a press that creates space higher up the pitch.
—Mark Carey, New York Times, 14 Aug. 2025
Adjective
People argue about how much space a birder should give to its target, and whether baiting them with food is appropriate.
—Ross Andersen, The Atlantic, 7 Sep. 2025
Exclude ants by baiting them at the base of your specimen infested with the fungus or apply Vaseline to the trunk of the tree or branches of the shrub in a two-inch wide band.
—Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 15 Aug. 2025
On the ball, Maresca’s preference is for his side to build with short passes from his goalkeeper, often with the aim of baiting opponents into a press that creates space higher up the pitch.
—Mark Carey, New York Times, 14 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for baiting
Verb
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Trump has also threatened to fire Fed Chair Jerome Powell, often taunting him with name-calling.—
Alex Veiga,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Aug. 2025
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That entanglement allowed Biden to traverse the country haranguing business on equity, climate, daycare, union labor, and other whole-of-government crusades—while taunting Republicans who relented for the sake of home-district dollars.—
Clyde Wayne Crews Jr,
Forbes.com,
25 Aug. 2025
Verb
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In a sponsor category long dominated by two giants, the athleisure maker joins a wave of challengers tempting star players with opportunities for creative input—and lucrative financial terms.—
Matt Craig,
Forbes.com,
22 Aug. 2025
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That is an obvious but nevertheless tempting play with Burrow and the first-string offense in action.—
Tyler Everett,
MSNBC Newsweek,
7 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Gunn has been teasing this new feature for weeks, saying that his next project won’t be a direct sequel to Superman, but will feature characters audiences already know from his summer hit.—
Aaron Couch,
HollywoodReporter,
3 Sep. 2025
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The radio host was set to return to his SiriusXM show this morning, after nearly a month of teasing a big reveal surrounding rumors that his show would be canceled.—
Jodi Guglielmi,
Rolling Stone,
2 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Swatting is a dangerous criminal hoax where a false report is made to police with the express purpose of luring them to a location, where they are led to believe a horrific crime such as a mass shooting, an imminent bombing, or hostage taking has been committed or is in progress.—
Cindy Von Quednow,
CNN Money,
21 Aug. 2025
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While cash rents are already climbing, averaging $160 per acre this year, solar companies are luring landowners with payouts as high as $1,500 per acre annually.—
Brooke L. Rollins,
MSNBC Newsweek,
20 Aug. 2025
Verb
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And in June, a Chicago White Sox fan was ejected from a game and later banned for life after mocking Arizona Diamondbacks second baseman Ketel Marte’s late mother during a game.—
Sean Neumann,
People.com,
18 Aug. 2025
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Giants rookie Abdul Carter belittled the Jets on Sunday while mocking the first lowlight of his NFL career.—
Pat Leonard,
New York Daily News,
18 Aug. 2025
Verb
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The drama follows Veneno (played by non-pro Víctor Miguel), a headstrong young drifter who survives by seducing truck drivers at 24-hour roadside diners called cachimbas.—
Anna Marie de la Fuente,
Variety,
25 Aug. 2025
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After breaking out on The Good Place and seducing us to the Dark Side as a smoldering Sith Daddy (#savetheacolyte), Jacinto is at long last getting his due as a romantic leading man.—
Maureen Lee Lenker Published,
EW.com,
5 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Where internet trolls often come off as flippant or spiteful, there is a relentless sense of play and mastery of language in even McNally’s most needling posts.—
Fran Hoepfner,
Vulture,
5 Aug. 2025
Verb
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But much like Howard Jarvis feared, the tax-and-spend interests have sought to destroy Proposition 13 ever since, most recently by persuading courts to carve loopholes in its constitutional protections and invent new ways for government agencies to raise revenue.—
Jon Coupal,
Oc Register,
7 Sep. 2025
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Elizabeth Stage, whose Oakland hills home barely escaped the deadly 1991 firestorm, and whose work as president of the Oakland FireSafe Council involves persuading residents to adopt Zone 0 measures, said the study would be a helpful, persuasive tool.—
Ethan Baron,
Mercury News,
7 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Baiting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/baiting. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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