LEAD ON Synonyms: 39 Similar and Opposite Words

lead on

verb

Definition of lead on

as in to tempt

to lead away from a usual or proper course by offering some pleasure or advantage a con man whose dupes are usually led on by their own greed and eagerness to turn an easy buck

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Recent Examples of Synonyms for lead on

Verb

While on the trail, keep your eyes peeled for wildlife your dog may be tempted to chase.

— Madeline Gunderson, USA Today, 5 Sep. 2026
You could be tempted to let a friend, sibling or group chat decide everything just to avoid an unnecessary debate.

— Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 5 Sep. 2026

Definition of tempt

Verb

Her medical fate is used by Kaftan’s deceivers to lure him into their trap, though again, this potential source of human feeling receives no emotional support from Mehring’s satiric style.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 9 Sep. 2026
The words themselves feel poetic, almost decadent, but the images are robbed of their power to meet them, as each frame feels aimed only at presenting, rather than luring or excavating.

— Siddhant Adlakha, IndieWire, 8 Sep. 2026

Definition of lure

Verb

Ricki is charismatic but not otherwordly; if anything, the fact that James is able to seduce or threaten without appearing to do much at all is what makes Ricki extra formidable.

— Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 5 Sep. 2026
Or if leadership got seduced by silhouette, movement and atmosphere, neglecting to marry the galleries to the overall concept.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of seduce

Verb

That’s what will thwart Hamilton, even if Leclerc could be persuaded to support him, and at the same time undo Ferrari’s corporate strategy for years to come, around that contract extension.

— Alex Kalinauckas, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026
Like Shylock, Kaftan is persuaded by a Gentile into making an unwise and ultimately dangerous investment.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 9 Sep. 2026

Definition of persuade

Verb

The high-concept thriller stars Valeria Bruni Tedeschi as a demonic character called The Stranger, who entices a young mother played by Jasmine Trinca into forging a Faustian pact.

— Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 3 Sep. 2026
All of this casts doubt on whether the event will pull the kind of star power that entices TV networks to break their regular prime-time programming and compel viewers to skip an NFL game to tune in.

— Daniel Strauss, Vulture, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of entice

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“Lead on.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lead%20on. Accessed 10 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of lead on

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