decoy 1 of 2

as in bait
something used to attract animals to a hook or into a trap we set the decoy afloat in the marsh and from the blind waited for the ducks to arrive

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

decoy

2 of 2

verb

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb decoy differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of decoy are entice, inveigle, lure, seduce, and tempt. While all these words mean "to lead astray from one's true course," decoy implies a luring into entrapment by artifice.

attempting to decoy the enemy into an ambush

Where would entice be a reasonable alternative to decoy?

The meanings of entice and decoy largely overlap; however, entice suggests drawing by artful or adroit means.

advertising designed to entice new customers

When might inveigle be a better fit than decoy?

The words inveigle and decoy are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, inveigle implies enticing by cajoling or flattering.

fund-raisers inveigling wealthy alumni

When would lure be a good substitute for decoy?

In some situations, the words lure and decoy are roughly equivalent. However, lure implies a drawing into danger, evil, or difficulty through attracting and deceiving.

lured naive investors with get-rich-quick schemes

When could seduce be used to replace decoy?

The words seduce and decoy can be used in similar contexts, but seduce implies a leading astray by persuasion or false promises.

seduced by assurances of assistance

When is tempt a more appropriate choice than decoy?

The synonyms tempt and decoy are sometimes interchangeable, but tempt implies the presenting of an attraction so strong that it overcomes the restraints of conscience or better judgment.

tempted by the offer of money

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 decoy
Noun
Dan Schrack, an actor who posed as a decoy would-be victim of pedophilia as a young-looking adult working on the show, shares his memory of a sting operation subject's suicide in the new documentary Predators, which charts the history and influence of the Dateline NBC segment. Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 27 Sep. 2025 But the filming ended up being a decoy to trick fans. Lexy Perez, HollywoodReporter, 18 Sep. 2025
Verb
Monday night and Tuesday night saw a cumulative 667 attack and decoy drones of various types, plus one missile, launched into Ukraine by Russia, according to figures published by the Ukrainian air force and analyzed by ABC News. David Brennan, ABC News, 16 July 2025 Russia fired 397 Shahed and decoy drones as well as cruise and ballistic missiles at Kyiv and five other regions, authorities said. arkansasonline.com, 11 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for decoy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for decoy
Noun
  • Neither one exactly feels like Grammy bait, per se.
    Chris Willman, Variety, 1 Oct. 2025
  • Wednesday’s episode began with a near-direct pickup of Season 10’s bait-and-switch cliffhanger, which saw Hannah ready to start spreading the news of her pregnancy.
    Claire Franken, TVLine, 1 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Amid the hangover of the 0-4 start, students shuffled out their dorms, lured by free food and faint promise of school spirit at the Rose Bowl.
    Cameron Teague Robinson, New York Times, 5 Oct. 2025
  • Built at a cost of $29 billion, the railway is meant to help lure visitors away from coastal hot spots like Cancún and to create jobs and development opportunities in a region that has long been one of the poorest in Mexico.
    Simon Willis, Travel + Leisure, 5 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Yet no one would be tempted to call one species natural, the other not.
    Harmon Siegel, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2025
  • The author throws out plenty of bones to tempt a composer.
    Justin Davidson, Vulture, 30 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The novel opens as the teenage Karl Rossmann, whose parents shipped him off to America for fathering a child when he was seduced by the family’s thirty-five-year-old cook, arrives on a steamer in New York harbor and sees the Statue of Liberty holding not the emblematic torch but rather a sword.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 6 Oct. 2025
  • Her distinctive style stance has seduced the likes of Addison Rae, Ice Spice, Kylie Jenner, Hari Nef, Selena Gomez, Hailey Bieber, Chloë Sevigny and Sarah Jessica Parker.
    Alex Wynne, Footwear News, 3 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • In early September, Jakarta police alleged that some TikTok users purposefully broadcast live during the violence to entice viewers into giving them gifts or virtual prizes that can be exchanged for cash.
    Chad de Guzman, Time, 6 Oct. 2025
  • There's something wicked about building horror movies around toys, dolls, and other kid-friendly touchstones; they're bound to entice (and potentially scar) curious young audiences more than usual.
    Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 6 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Nevertheless, when issues on mass transit occurred, the city could persuade PTC to improve conditions, but the city was only required to offer emergency services to commuters.
    Menika Dirkson, The Conversation, 3 Oct. 2025
  • The message sought to persuade the public to take measures to eliminate the spread of COVID-19.
    Molly Beck, jsonline.com, 3 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Decoy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/decoy. Accessed 9 Oct. 2025.

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