1
as in lures
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 temptations
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 taunts
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 tempts
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 baits
Kelli Bender, PEOPLE, 30 Sep. 2025
Keep the baits out of reach of kids and pets.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 23 Sep. 2025
Crank baits are working for shallower bass.
—Arkansas Online, 16 Sep. 2025
Included are seven types of lure rigs, hooks, soft baits, hard baits, spinners and more.
—Christopher Murray
May Earn A Commission If You Buy Through Our Referral Links. This Content Was Created By A Team That Works Independently From The Fox Newsroom., FOXNews.com, 8 Aug. 2025
Another good bet is the spinner baits mentioned for spring fishing.
—Anthony A. Ciuffa, Outdoor Life, 7 Aug. 2025
Designed for rodents, these baits were not intended for larger animals such as pigs, but the animals' foraging behavior resulted in unintended ingestion of the poison and visible blue dye.
—Jordan King, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Aug. 2025
Arkansas Online, 16 Sep. 2025
There are also several moments in which the self-reflexiveness of Clooney’s casting effectively baits us into believing that the Cary Grant of his day is baring his soul for our edification.
—David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 28 Aug. 2025
Noun
At the emergency vet, Scout had normal vitals, and the professional at first thought that the dog was suffering from only an upset stomach caused by the baits.
—Kelli Bender, PEOPLE, 30 Sep. 2025
Keep the baits out of reach of kids and pets.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 23 Sep. 2025
Crank baits are working for shallower bass.
—Arkansas Online, 16 Sep. 2025
Included are seven types of lure rigs, hooks, soft baits, hard baits, spinners and more.
—Christopher Murray
May Earn A Commission If You Buy Through Our Referral Links. This Content Was Created By A Team That Works Independently From The Fox Newsroom., FOXNews.com, 8 Aug. 2025
Another good bet is the spinner baits mentioned for spring fishing.
—Anthony A. Ciuffa, Outdoor Life, 7 Aug. 2025
Designed for rodents, these baits were not intended for larger animals such as pigs, but the animals' foraging behavior resulted in unintended ingestion of the poison and visible blue dye.
—Jordan King, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Aug. 2025
Verb
Trolling crank baits along points and flats 15 feet deep over deeper water should still work.
—Arkansas Online, 16 Sep. 2025
There are also several moments in which the self-reflexiveness of Clooney’s casting effectively baits us into believing that the Cary Grant of his day is baring his soul for our edification.
—David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 28 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for baits
Verb
-
Garraty is forced to slap himself across the face to stay awake as Barkovitch taunts him.—
Nick Romano,
Entertainment Weekly,
8 Sep. 2025
-
In the present day, Ellen watches as MacKinny taunts Colum in front of a crowd of onlookers and rushes to stand by his side.—
Lincee Ray Published,
EW.com,
15 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
But Ischia—which once attracted Hollywood royalty including Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton, on a break from filming Cleopatra, and still lures the likes of Robert DeNiro—isn’t really for the attention-seekers.—
Jacqui Gifford,
Travel + Leisure,
29 Sep. 2025
-
Designed in China and fueled by kits sold or rented to threat actors around the world, these attacks are disguised as unpaid toll, undelivered package or motoring offense lures.—
Zak Doffman,
Forbes.com,
30 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Still, Jung teases the possibility that San-ho could live to protect Mun-ju again.—
Kayti Burt,
Time,
3 Oct. 2025
-
Phil initially teases Peter for being weak and effeminate.—
Mathew Rodriguez,
Them.,
25 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Unwind Along the Coast Zanzibar, a Tanzanian archipelago off the coast of East Africa, tempts with spice tours, rooftop cocktails, and sunset dhow sails.—
Karin Jones,
Travel + Leisure,
4 Sep. 2025
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The device contains, among other things, doorways to other dimensions, including one that tempts Peacemaker with a seemingly storybook version of his broken family.—
Brian Davids,
HollywoodReporter,
22 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Everything about the scene seduces the viewer into what dining while traveling in the most luxurious fashion could be, and once was.—
Kristin L. Wolfe,
Forbes.com,
27 Aug. 2025
-
In his youth, the blue-eyed Stamp was widely considered one of the most handsome men onscreen, and Italian director Pier Paolo Pasolini used that to peculiar effect in Teorema (1968), casting the actor as a nameless and wordless visitor who seduces an entire household.—
Rhett Bartlett,
HollywoodReporter,
17 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Baits.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/baits. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.
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