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
Relevance
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
Dean Potter was one of the most notable names in the world of climbing, a free solo pioneer who courted controversy by scaling rock formations not meant for humans.
—
K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 10 Apr. 2026
Players like those will be courted by many programs and likely will command a lot of money.
—John Shipley, Twin Cities, 6 Apr. 2026
As On3’s Zack Geoghegan wrote last week, G League guard Dink Pate—who went undrafted in 2025—is being courted by Kentucky and other major D-I programs.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 6 Apr. 2026
Cook Islands, an archipelago of 15 islands in the vast South Pacific Ocean, is among many small nations in the region to be courted by Beijing, which has offered aid, loans and deals throughout the Pacific to increase its sway.
—ABC News, 2 Apr. 2026
There were also rumblings, according to Vaccaro, about the team possibly being courted to a new stadium in New Jersey that would have had a fresh look compared to the crumbling Yankee Stadium that was hoping for city funding to make integral repairs.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 1 Apr. 2026
This was back in the early 2000s in her native San Diego, as the budding talent and her sister Anna were in a family band called the Troys that was being courted by major labels.
—Selena Fragassi, SPIN, 30 Mar. 2026
The Chinese operative at issue is Christine Fang, also known as Fang Fang, who reportedly courted Swalwell and other California politicians in the United States from 2011 to 2015.
—Perry Stein The Washington Post, Arkansas Online, 29 Mar. 2026
For eight years, I was courted and wooed.
—Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 27 Mar. 2026
K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 10 Apr. 2026
Players like those will be courted by many programs and likely will command a lot of money.
—John Shipley, Twin Cities, 6 Apr. 2026
As On3’s Zack Geoghegan wrote last week, G League guard Dink Pate—who went undrafted in 2025—is being courted by Kentucky and other major D-I programs.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 6 Apr. 2026
Cook Islands, an archipelago of 15 islands in the vast South Pacific Ocean, is among many small nations in the region to be courted by Beijing, which has offered aid, loans and deals throughout the Pacific to increase its sway.
—ABC News, 2 Apr. 2026
There were also rumblings, according to Vaccaro, about the team possibly being courted to a new stadium in New Jersey that would have had a fresh look compared to the crumbling Yankee Stadium that was hoping for city funding to make integral repairs.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 1 Apr. 2026
This was back in the early 2000s in her native San Diego, as the budding talent and her sister Anna were in a family band called the Troys that was being courted by major labels.
—Selena Fragassi, SPIN, 30 Mar. 2026
The Chinese operative at issue is Christine Fang, also known as Fang Fang, who reportedly courted Swalwell and other California politicians in the United States from 2011 to 2015.
—Perry Stein The Washington Post, Arkansas Online, 29 Mar. 2026
For eight years, I was courted and wooed.
—Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 27 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for courted
Verb
-
In the United States and elsewhere, meanwhile, investors are being wooed by artificial intelligence, drawing attention and dollars away from biotech.—
Allison DeAngelis,
STAT,
9 Apr. 2026
-
The home was converted into apartments in 1951 but retained some of the original grandeur that probably wooed the Morgan clan, too (high ceilings and a wood-burning fireplace, in particular).—
Matthew Sedacca,
Curbed,
16 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The 29-year-old mom of two dated a guy who claimed he was divorced, even presenting her with papers to prove it.—
Tribune News Service,
Baltimore Sun,
9 Apr. 2026
-
The comedian has dated Chris Convy since 2013.—
Raechal Shewfelt,
Entertainment Weekly,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
But his middling play, paired with Cameron Young’s surge, has invited a dramatic final round.—
Gabriel Burns,
AJC.com,
12 Apr. 2026
-
There could be a bigger dearth of small-school names called in this year’s draft on April 23-25 in Pittsburgh because of the 319 prospects invited to the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis, only 17 were from nonpower conference schools.—
Arnie Stapleton,
Chicago Tribune,
11 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Courted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/courted. Accessed 14 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
