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
-
Doue and Dembele also drop into midfield, while Kvaratskhelia is his usual destructive self off the left, rounding off a nightmare of rotations and raw running power that tempts defences out of their shape before smashing through.—
Sarah Shephard,
New York Times,
29 May 2026
-
Frida is the most significant secondary figure — the person who tempts Gabrielle away from her trajectory, making her pause and ponder roads not taken.—
Jon Frosch,
HollywoodReporter,
13 May 2026
Verb
-
Kee's, a 71-seat neo-bistro, lures both locals and guests for European-meets-Pan-Asian cooking.—
Lauren Mowery,
Forbes.com,
31 May 2026
-
The taco de camarón is what lures diners and keeps them returning.—
Catherine Garcia,
TheWeek,
28 May 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
-
In an underdeveloped twist, Clark persuades his skeptical assistant, Kat (Lukita Maxwell), and her more gullible boyfriend, Bobby (Finn Bennett), to enter the Backrooms with him, armed with Bobby’s camcorder.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
31 May 2026
-
The product being optimised is your attention, and the people refining that optimisation have budgets, behavioural scientists, and years of data on what persuades you.—
Jodie Cook,
Forbes.com,
31 May 2026
Verb
-
In a European women’s football ecosystem that still relies predominantly on the beneficence of men’s football, Kang’s bullishness to put her money where her mouth is naturally entices.—
Megan Feringa,
New York Times,
27 May 2026
-
This fast-growing shrub entices pollinators and birds and is deer and rabbit resistent.—
Lauren David,
Southern Living,
16 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Leads on.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/leads%20on. Accessed 6 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
