courted

past tense of court
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

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 courted Additional private investment is being courted to offset that burden on Cypriot consumers while additional EU funding is being weighed, said Damianos. ABC News, 9 Aug. 2026 Moore’s expressive face has courted much attention across the icon’s Hollywood career, with her facial contortions drawing critical praise (and, sometimes, the meme treatment) over the years. Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 6 Aug. 2026 Texas has aggressively courted data center development with its availability of cheap land and relatively abundant energy resources, along with offering state incentives, like tax breaks and fewer regulations. Jeremy Hsu, ArsTechnica, 4 Aug. 2026 Stevens has courted Black voters, who often make up the Democratic base. Jay Stahl, USA Today, 1 Aug. 2026 Babitz courted danger with heedless bravado and exemplary recklessness. Steve Wasserman, Los Angeles Times, 27 July 2026 Chris Fleming looks wistfully on the wave of YouTube content creators courted by Hollywood after Backrooms director Kane Parsons and Obsession’s Curry Barker notched runaway horror pic hits at the multiplex. Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 24 July 2026 Chinese fund managers have increasingly courted Middle Eastern sovereign wealth to seek funding, but the Gulf's money pool is far smaller than America's – and shallower than China's own wealth stash, Hu said. Anniek Bao, CNBC, 16 July 2026 The 41-year old James, going into his 23rd year in the NBA, is being openly courted by five different cities, and there is a huge economic payoff in the balance for each one. Joshua Hong, Fortune, 16 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for courted
Verb
  • Didier Deschamps’ side had wooed everybody with their vast attacking talents, yet Spain completely threw them off their rhythm.
    Mario Cortegana, New York Times, 19 July 2026
  • Miguel Maduro, a law professor and former advocate general at the European Court of Justice, took over as chair of FIFA’s governance committee after Infantino wooed him with promises of reform.
    Tom Kludt, Vanity Fair, 17 July 2026
Verb
  • Now 89, Beatty dated Natalie Wood, Joan Collins, Leslie Caron, Carly Simon, Julie Christie, Diane Keaton and Madonna, to name just a few.
    Martha Ross, Mercury News, 12 Aug. 2026
  • The announcement, dated August 5, named Anirudh Kamath, Smithery's co-founder, as joining the Arcade team.
    Janakiram MSV, Forbes.com, 11 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Ansari said Qatar had invited Iran to be briefed on the details of the operations in April but didn’t receive a response.
    Charlotte Reck, CNN Money, 16 Aug. 2026
  • Luk grew up without religion, but many childhood friends were religious and invited her to churches and youth groups.
    Callum McLennan, Variety, 15 Aug. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Courted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/courted. Accessed 16 Aug. 2026.

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