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
Travis famously courted Swift in perhaps the most public way possible—by shouting her out on his podcast.
—
Hannah Malach, InStyle, 27 Feb. 2026
The Greens courted the constituency’s ethnic-minority voters, even publishing pre-election material in Urdu and Bangla.
—Christian Edwards, CNN Money, 27 Feb. 2026
Known for his brusque demeanor, Brush frequently courted controversy.
—Libby Cierzniak, IndyStar, 20 Feb. 2026
But thanks to the surge in romance readers (many who count themselves part of the #booktok community online), many romance authors are being courted by producers, agents and executives.
—Kayla Hayempour, NBC news, 19 Feb. 2026
Florida’s state lawmakers — many of them former city and county leaders — are being courted by some of the state’s wealthiest landowners, development corporations and construction companies.
—Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 15 Feb. 2026
Marc Anthony has long been courted for a Las Vegas residency, as much for his star power, as for his long history with the city and with the icons associated with it, including Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis Jr.
—Leila Cobo, Billboard, 13 Feb. 2026
Among them was deciding where to take Elle Fanning’s character, American actress Rachel Kemp, who is creatively courted at a French film festival by auteur filmmaker Gustav Borg, played by best supporting actor nominee Stellan Skarsgard.
—Simon Thompson, HollywoodReporter, 11 Feb. 2026
Mercy Culture has courted controversy and gained influence in some conservative circles with its often-divisive rhetoric and ambition.
—Sarah Bahari, Dallas Morning News, 6 Feb. 2026
Hannah Malach, InStyle, 27 Feb. 2026
The Greens courted the constituency’s ethnic-minority voters, even publishing pre-election material in Urdu and Bangla.
—Christian Edwards, CNN Money, 27 Feb. 2026
Known for his brusque demeanor, Brush frequently courted controversy.
—Libby Cierzniak, IndyStar, 20 Feb. 2026
But thanks to the surge in romance readers (many who count themselves part of the #booktok community online), many romance authors are being courted by producers, agents and executives.
—Kayla Hayempour, NBC news, 19 Feb. 2026
Florida’s state lawmakers — many of them former city and county leaders — are being courted by some of the state’s wealthiest landowners, development corporations and construction companies.
—Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 15 Feb. 2026
Marc Anthony has long been courted for a Las Vegas residency, as much for his star power, as for his long history with the city and with the icons associated with it, including Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis Jr.
—Leila Cobo, Billboard, 13 Feb. 2026
Among them was deciding where to take Elle Fanning’s character, American actress Rachel Kemp, who is creatively courted at a French film festival by auteur filmmaker Gustav Borg, played by best supporting actor nominee Stellan Skarsgard.
—Simon Thompson, HollywoodReporter, 11 Feb. 2026
Mercy Culture has courted controversy and gained influence in some conservative circles with its often-divisive rhetoric and ambition.
—Sarah Bahari, Dallas Morning News, 6 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for courted
Verb
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The documents — released in response to the Epstein Files Transparency Act passed by Congress last year — reveal how Epstein wooed state and federal prosecutors, assistant district attorneys, sheriff’s deputies, probation officers, federal marshals and customs and border patrol officers.—
Julie K. Brown,
Miami Herald,
26 Feb. 2026
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The two moved in the same political slipstream, wooed the same set of Democratic donors and, for a time, even shared the same group of campaign advisors.—
Mark Z. Barabak,
Mercury News,
26 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Over two-thirds of young adults have either not dated at all or only gone on a few dates in the last year.—
Shadi Hamid,
Washington Post,
6 Mar. 2026
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Ballerini was previously married to Evans and has dated Stokes.—
Raechal Shewfelt,
Entertainment Weekly,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
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They're honored and grateful to be invited and any opportunity to visit the White House as a team will be based on their schedules once their seasons conclude.—
Allison DeGrushe,
Entertainment Weekly,
28 Feb. 2026
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Pope Leo has been invited to lead the opening ceremony of the central tower next summer.—
Maureen O'Hare,
CNN Money,
28 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Courted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/courted. Accessed 6 Mar. 2026.
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