as in tempting
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 decoying
What these guys really care about is decoying ducks in and seeing the show.
—
Alex Robinson, Outdoor Life, 9 Oct. 2025
Alex Robinson, Outdoor Life, 9 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for decoying
Verb
-
Pricing must stay fair enough for casual fans yet tempting enough for collectors.—
Dmitrii Khasanov,
Forbes.com,
18 Sep. 2025
-
Our moments of uncanny convergence—like bumping into an old flame at the exact right (or wrong) time—function like indulgences did in the days of Martin Luther, tempting us in the promise of paradise.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
There are other projects in the works as well, but Academy is currently Paramount+’s best hope for the franchise’s future and for luring, well, the next generation.—
James Hibberd,
HollywoodReporter,
11 Oct. 2025
-
Decades before the internet, Gunness exploited men’s loneliness — luring them to her hog farm with the promise of romance and sending many to a shallow grave beneath the Indiana soil.—
Christina Coulter,
PEOPLE,
11 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Here are some of the less invasive procedures seducing Hollywood, as well as some of their most sought-after practitioners.—
Elycia Rubin,
HollywoodReporter,
29 Sep. 2025
-
The drama follows Veneno (played by non-pro Víctor Miguel), a headstrong young drifter who survives by seducing truck drivers at 24-hour roadside diners called cachimbas.—
Anna Marie de la Fuente,
Variety,
25 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Here’s how football is enticing more women to tune in (and spend money).—
Jennifer Halper,
Variety,
10 Oct. 2025
-
If that’s not enticing enough, the vineyard is kid- and dog- friendly to make sure everyone has a great time.—
Elliott Harrell,
Southern Living,
5 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
For other programs in recent years, previous relationships have proven critical as coaches like Indiana’s Curt Cignetti (hired from James Madison) and Washington’s Jedd Fisch (Arizona) were able to jump-start their rebuilds by persuading several of their key players to make the move with them.—
The Athletic Colleges staff,
New York Times,
10 Oct. 2025
-
He’s been accused of persuading people to invest their life savings in his real estate opportunities and promising six-figure returns, only to take the profits for himself.—
Jon Blistein,
Rolling Stone,
8 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Amazon is really baiting us to breakup with our iPads by offering 50% off the newest generation of their Fire tablet.—
Julia Harrison,
Architectural Digest,
8 Oct. 2025
-
The objectionable programs in that case were not the Republican-baiting precincts of late-night television but the social taboo-breaking entertainments of Three’s Company, All in the Family and Knots Landing.—
Steven Zeitchik,
HollywoodReporter,
27 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Decoying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/decoying. Accessed 19 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share