lead on

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 Synonyms allure, bait, beguile, betray, decoy, entice, lure, seduce, solicit, temptRelated Words draw in, inveigle, persuade, rope (in), snow; catch, enmesh (also immesh), ensnare, entrap, mesh, snare, tangle, trap; bewitch, captivate, charm, enchant, fascinate, magnetize, wileNear Antonyms alert, caution, forewarn, ward (off), warn; drive (away or off), repulse, turn away