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

Now the game’s future is looking decidedly brighter and many more players of the original may be tempted to give the sequel a second chance.

— Barry Collins, Forbes.com, 4 July 2026
If the thermostat is working properly but the air conditioner is struggling, don't be tempted to turn down the temperature even more.

— Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 4 July 2026

Definition of tempt

Verb

The theory is that the deluge, which broke January daily rainfall records for Sydney, flushed sewage and other waste into the nearby coastal waters, attracting baitfish, which in turn lured sharks closer to shore.

— Sam Nichols, Scientific American, 8 July 2026
To lure the Panthers to Rock Hill, the city had agreed to give up its full share of fee revenue for that incentive deal.

— John Marks, Charlotte Observer, 8 July 2026

Definition of lure

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
The writer thinks that the person seducing the main character is just some flotsam, hardly worth a second look.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 26 June 2026

Definition of seduce

Verb

The play, which won the Susan Smith Blackburn Prize this year, entices on the page despite seeming overstuffed and curiously decentralized.

— Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 8 July 2026
Despite rising costs, a number of properties throughout the country are keeping prices affordable to entice thrill-seekers.

— Colson Thayer, PEOPLE, 6 July 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 12 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of lead on

verb

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