as in tempts
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 & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of leads on
When Michael left the band in 1984, Jackie continued with The Jacksons, splitting leads on the group’s last album with Jermaine.
—
Nicole Briese, PEOPLE, 26 Apr. 2026
The government argued the two anonymous plaintiffs had never been personally targeted and therefore had no basis to sue, noting that a state department review of 5,000 leads on campus protesters resulted in visa revocations in less than 1% of cases.
—Ryan MacAsero, Mercury News, 10 Mar. 2026
While the bullpen has lost closer Robert Suarez, LHP Adrián Morejón and RHPs Mason Miller, Jason Adam and Jeremiah Estrada figure to have leads on lock after the fifth inning.
—Jeff Sanders, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Feb. 2026
China leads on clean energy technologies and its emissions are starting to fall.
—Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 22 Feb. 2026
Montgomery was among the players working on fundamentals such as secondary leads on the bases before taking a few cuts in the cages.
—Lamond Pope, Chicago Tribune, 16 Feb. 2026
Authorities working on the case are currently examining Walmart sales records for possible leads on the culprit due to the backpack and clothing he was seen wearing on the doorbell camera of Nancy’s home.
—Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 16 Feb. 2026
Both the Tenerife and Manchester offices will operate under Head of Studio Helen Brown, who leads on production, recruitment and talent development.
—Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 13 Feb. 2026
Instead of the battlefield, the defenseman and Woodstock native leads on the ice as a fifth-year veteran for his team.
—Kaley Fedko, CBS News, 9 Jan. 2026
Nicole Briese, PEOPLE, 26 Apr. 2026
The government argued the two anonymous plaintiffs had never been personally targeted and therefore had no basis to sue, noting that a state department review of 5,000 leads on campus protesters resulted in visa revocations in less than 1% of cases.
—Ryan MacAsero, Mercury News, 10 Mar. 2026
While the bullpen has lost closer Robert Suarez, LHP Adrián Morejón and RHPs Mason Miller, Jason Adam and Jeremiah Estrada figure to have leads on lock after the fifth inning.
—Jeff Sanders, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Feb. 2026
China leads on clean energy technologies and its emissions are starting to fall.
—Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 22 Feb. 2026
Montgomery was among the players working on fundamentals such as secondary leads on the bases before taking a few cuts in the cages.
—Lamond Pope, Chicago Tribune, 16 Feb. 2026
Authorities working on the case are currently examining Walmart sales records for possible leads on the culprit due to the backpack and clothing he was seen wearing on the doorbell camera of Nancy’s home.
—Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 16 Feb. 2026
Both the Tenerife and Manchester offices will operate under Head of Studio Helen Brown, who leads on production, recruitment and talent development.
—Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 13 Feb. 2026
Instead of the battlefield, the defenseman and Woodstock native leads on the ice as a fifth-year veteran for his team.
—Kaley Fedko, CBS News, 9 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for leads on
Verb
-
Boxing tempts him, the business world motivates him and his role as a promoter excites him.—
Jorge Ebro
May 6,
Miami Herald,
6 May 2026
-
The casino now resides in many homes and daily tempts the occupants.—
Jacqueline Munis,
Fortune,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Le Petit Paris lures diners in with homemade quiche, macarons, gourmet salads with warm goat cheese, and toasted croissant sandwiches with fig and blue cheese or brie and honey.—
Terry Ward,
Travel + Leisure,
9 May 2026
-
Spring’s warmer weather lures people outdoors – and into possible contact with ticks that spread Lyme disease.—
Lakshmi Chauhan,
The Conversation,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Intrigued, the Duke secretly seduces Gilda, breaks her heart and destroys Rigoletto’s life.—
Pam Kragen,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
22 Mar. 2026
-
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
Verb
-
Whale lusts after a hunky gardener (Brendan Fraser) and persuades him to pose for a few sketches; Julian, though bisexual, expresses no such interest in Lori, and any art-making turns out to be a gratifyingly mutual endeavor.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
3 Apr. 2026
-
The confidence heuristic explains why certainty persuades us.—
Nick Dothée,
The Atlantic,
22 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Borage An annual herb with bright bluish-purple flowers, borage entices important insects to the garden.—
Lauren David,
Martha Stewart,
24 Apr. 2026
-
Loot boxes in the crosshairs James alleges Valve entices players to pay for a chance to win a rare virtual item, and that those rare items can be traded for real money in accordance with their rarity.—
Jesse Zanger,
CBS News,
25 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Leads on.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/leads%20on. Accessed 12 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
