1
as in wooed
to act so as to make (something) more likely
you're courting disaster if you keep playing with matches
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in dated
to go on dates that may eventually lead to marriage
they courted for a year before getting married
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of courted
The awarding of the prize has also courted controversy.
—
Kate Bartlett, NPR, 9 Oct. 2025
The park has courted controversies over the years, including the aforementioned multiple animal deaths that have spurred numerous protests.
—Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 8 Oct. 2025
Far from being ostracized, Palestinian leaders are being courted by statesmen even while hostages remain in Gaza—even while Hamas openly vows to repeat October 7 again and again.
—Aviva Klompas, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Oct. 2025
In fact, many of the posters, my colleagues and I have noticed, seem to be marked with verbatim messages in similar handwriting; had Schiffmann not only courted the vandalism but also instigated it?
—Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 6 Oct. 2025
Increasingly, that cohort includes Gen Z (up to age 27) and millennials (ages 28 to 44), a group Squeri has actively courted.
—Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 22 Sep. 2025
His channel’s direction has courted controversy in recent years.
—Katherine Laidlaw, HubSpot, 19 Sep. 2025
She was interviewed everywhere, courted everywhere.
—Literary Hub, 17 Sep. 2025
Isak was courted by Chelsea and was then told by Mitchell that the club could not afford to grant him a new contract.
—George Caulkin, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2025
Kate Bartlett, NPR, 9 Oct. 2025
The park has courted controversies over the years, including the aforementioned multiple animal deaths that have spurred numerous protests.
—Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 8 Oct. 2025
Far from being ostracized, Palestinian leaders are being courted by statesmen even while hostages remain in Gaza—even while Hamas openly vows to repeat October 7 again and again.
—Aviva Klompas, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Oct. 2025
In fact, many of the posters, my colleagues and I have noticed, seem to be marked with verbatim messages in similar handwriting; had Schiffmann not only courted the vandalism but also instigated it?
—Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 6 Oct. 2025
Increasingly, that cohort includes Gen Z (up to age 27) and millennials (ages 28 to 44), a group Squeri has actively courted.
—Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 22 Sep. 2025
His channel’s direction has courted controversy in recent years.
—Katherine Laidlaw, HubSpot, 19 Sep. 2025
She was interviewed everywhere, courted everywhere.
—Literary Hub, 17 Sep. 2025
Isak was courted by Chelsea and was then told by Mitchell that the club could not afford to grant him a new contract.
—George Caulkin, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for courted
Verb
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Is America going to remain close to a 50-50 nation for years to come — not just because of roughly equal levels of public enthusiasm for Democrats and Republicans but because both parties won’t pursue millions of voters who are ready to be wooed?—
U T Editorial Board,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
26 Sep. 2025
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Angela Bassett stars as Brenda Brown, a struggling single mother who, while dealing with some incredibly complicated business matters, is wooed by a basketball coach (Rick Fox) who sees potential in her son.—
Declan Gallagher,
Entertainment Weekly,
14 Sep. 2025
Verb
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According to The New Yorker, Hunter and Perkins met at the pool at the Chateau Marmont in 1956 and dated for three years.—
Christopher Rudolph,
PEOPLE,
8 Oct. 2025
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Gomez and Swift have been friends since they double-dated with two of the Jonas brothers.—
Emily Zemler,
Rolling Stone,
7 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Leaders from Israel and Hamas were not invited initially.—
Greg Myre,
NPR,
13 Oct. 2025
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Alternatively, culinary enthusiasts will be invited to an intimate cooking class at Caruso led by executive chef Armando Aristarco.—
Sofia Celeste,
Footwear News,
13 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Courted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/courted. Accessed 15 Oct. 2025.
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