as in baits
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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in lures
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of decoys
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 14 Mar. 2026
Igloo White was often misled by Vietnamese decoys.
—Jon R. Lindsay, The Conversation, 11 Mar. 2026
The crow decoys were dropped from a drone onto the prison grounds, the Sheriff’s Office said in a news release on Monday.
—Amy McDaniel, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Mar. 2026
Some decoys appear young; others use AI to make their photos look younger.
—Shira Moolten, Sun Sentinel, 5 Mar. 2026
What makes these decoys so striking isn’t just their size, but the accuracy behind the artistry.
—New Atlas, 21 Dec. 2025
One pair locked up on the decoys.
—Scott Haugen, Outdoor Life, 18 Dec. 2025
Weapons that serve much the same purposes—smart stand-off attack, decoys, and stand-in jammers—have already existed for decades in the form of cruise missiles and decoys such as the ADM-160 MALD-X.
—Justin Bronk, Foreign Affairs, 15 Dec. 2025
Lethal objects refer to missile warheads, while nonlethal objects—such as decoys—are countermeasures designed to help armed missile payloads penetrate missile defenses.
—Ryan Chan, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Dec. 2025
Jason Newman, Rolling Stone, 20 Sep. 2025
Noun
By processing large volumes of data quickly, AI can help determine which drones represent actual threats and which might be acting as decoys within a swarm.
—Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 14 Mar. 2026
Igloo White was often misled by Vietnamese decoys.
—Jon R. Lindsay, The Conversation, 11 Mar. 2026
The crow decoys were dropped from a drone onto the prison grounds, the Sheriff’s Office said in a news release on Monday.
—Amy McDaniel, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Mar. 2026
Some decoys appear young; others use AI to make their photos look younger.
—Shira Moolten, Sun Sentinel, 5 Mar. 2026
What makes these decoys so striking isn’t just their size, but the accuracy behind the artistry.
—New Atlas, 21 Dec. 2025
One pair locked up on the decoys.
—Scott Haugen, Outdoor Life, 18 Dec. 2025
Weapons that serve much the same purposes—smart stand-off attack, decoys, and stand-in jammers—have already existed for decades in the form of cruise missiles and decoys such as the ADM-160 MALD-X.
—Justin Bronk, Foreign Affairs, 15 Dec. 2025
Lethal objects refer to missile warheads, while nonlethal objects—such as decoys—are countermeasures designed to help armed missile payloads penetrate missile defenses.
—Ryan Chan, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Dec. 2025
Verb
Osit looks for answers in multiple places, interviewing law enforcement officials and district attorneys, academics, and former Perverted Justice decoys from the show.
—Jason Newman, Rolling Stone, 20 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for decoys
Noun
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Always follow local rules and regulations when trapping and relocating gophers and never use poison baits, which can harm non-target animals like owls and pets.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
4 Mar. 2026
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Start by setting out baits labeled for carpenter ants (but keep them out of reach of kids and pets).—
Arricca Elin SanSone,
Southern Living,
4 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Travis Chicago Style, one of the Magic City’s oldest food trucks, lures fans with their gloriously messy burgers and hot dogs.—
Bob Carlton,
Southern Living,
16 Mar. 2026
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In the episode, Eilish portrayed the leader of a women’s empowerment cult that lures the main character, Dre (Dominique Fishback), into her charming clutches.—
Annie Harrigan,
Billboard,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Sagittarius November 22 – December 21 Which horizon tempts your curious steps now?—
Tarot.com,
The Orlando Sentinel,
15 Feb. 2026
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November 22 – December 21 Which horizon tempts your curious steps now?—
Tarot.com,
Chicago Tribune,
15 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The victim of his sacrifice is Gretchen, a virgin whom Faust seduces and abandons in his devilish reverie, and who kills their illegitimate child.—
Merve Emre,
New Yorker,
1 Dec. 2025
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The film follows the deliciously immoral, widowed Lady Susan Vernon (Kate Beckinsale), who maneuvers, deceives and seduces her way through London and across her relatives' country estates in an effort to find a wealthy husband for herself and her daughter, Frederica (Morfydd Clark).—
Andrea Wurzburger,
PEOPLE,
29 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Decoys.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/decoys. Accessed 18 Mar. 2026.
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