DECOYED Synonyms: 39 Similar and Opposite Words

decoyed

verb

past tense of decoy

as in tempted

to lead away from a usual or proper course by offering some pleasure or advantage tacky souvenir shops to which first-time tourists had been decoyed into spending their hard-earned money

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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 decoyed Dowdle busted loose for a first down with 40 seconds to play after Young decoyed putting him in pass protection, and those 19 yards put the Panthers in position to kick a field goal after they’d won the coin flip and maneuvered to get the wind at the end. — Luke Decock, Charlotte Observer, 2 Nov. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for decoyed

Verb

Long hitters may be tempted to attack the green in two, but the uphill second shot played to a partially obscured putting surface—demands both precision and exceptional ball-striking.

— Jeff Goudy, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026
Other teams, including Remco Evenepoel’s Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe, may be tempted to try a move on Alpe d’Huez tomorrow, in case of sickness — a move of such aggression that it would never usually be considered.

— Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 23 July 2026

Definition of tempted

Verb

Tariq, a journalism major, had been lured to a fake address while delivering pizzas before he was confronted by a group of teenage gang members.

— Christina Coulter, PEOPLE, 30 July 2026
The region in southwest France is replete with vacation spots for tourists lured by soft-sand beaches, winemaking châteaux, some of France's largest pine forests and the historic city of Bordeaux, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

— ABC News, ABC News, 29 July 2026

Definition of lured

Verb

That book is a revenge fantasy about the former art school professor who seduced her, discarded her and destroyed her confidence as a painter.

— The Week UK, TheWeek, 2 July 2026
So instead of Syrax, the Blacks get close air support from Jace on Vermax and Moondancer, ridden by Baela, who is easily seduced into battle by Jace’s unchecked hero complex.

— Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 22 June 2026

Definition of seduced

Verb

When Milstein persuaded Levshunov and his mother, Inna, that Levshunov could be an NHL player and his best path was in North America, Milstein hoped Levshunov would meet those expectations.

— Scott Powers, New York Times, 30 July 2026
Dozens of officers were at the event, and at least one saw a 15-year-old suspect firing into a crowd and quickly persuaded him to surrender, according to court documents.

— ABC News, ABC News, 30 July 2026

Definition of persuaded

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decoy

decoyed

decoying

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“Decoyed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/decoyed. Accessed 2 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of decoyed

verb

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