as in tempting
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 leading on
That’s what leading on the ground looks like.
—
Raja Walia, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2025
Ramps leading on and off the interstate.
—Idaho Statesman, 13 Aug. 2025
Raja Walia, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2025
Ramps leading on and off the interstate.
—Idaho Statesman, 13 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for leading on
Verb
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Pricing must stay fair enough for casual fans yet tempting enough for collectors.—
Dmitrii Khasanov,
Forbes.com,
18 Sep. 2025
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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
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The Die, My Love screening is just one of a host of glitzy premieres, luring Hollywood heavyweights such as Angelina Jolie (for Alice Winocour’s Couture) and Colin Farrell (for Edward Berger’s Ballad of a Small Player) to Spain’s northern coast this year.—
Lily Ford,
HollywoodReporter,
26 Sep. 2025
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And Highway 1 remains an international draw, luring visitors from all over the United States and the world.—
Paul Rogers,
Mercury News,
24 Sep. 2025
Verb
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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
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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
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Other charges dismissed as part of an April plea agreement included two counts of persuading or coercing a minor to engage in prostitution.—
Nick Ferraro,
Twin Cities,
25 Sep. 2025
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To help, the members of Rolling Stone Culture Council share their best strategies for persuading others and why these approaches are so effective.—
Rolling Stone Culture Council,
Rolling Stone,
23 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Leading on.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/leading%20on. Accessed 30 Sep. 2025.
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