as in tempts
to lead away from a usual or proper course by offering some pleasure or advantage
the hunter lured the lion into the open with the antelope carcass
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in temptations
something that persuades one to perform an action for pleasure or gain
the promise of easy money is always the lure for some people to play the lottery good schools are a lure for prospective home buyers
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in baits
something used to attract animals to a hook or into a trap
the fish simply didn't seem to like the lure I was using, so I didn't catch a thing
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in seductions
the act or pressure of giving in to a desire especially when ill-advised
the lure of the video game was distracting me from my studies
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of lures
Michael Deeds, Idaho Statesman, 14 Oct. 2025
Buford wanted to understand the psychology of what lures people – usually men – to feed into the violence inspired by a sporting event.
—Ed Lavandera, CNN Money, 11 Oct. 2025
Trapped at sea On both page and screen, Carrie, the woman pretending to be Anne, lures Laura to the ship’s hold and traps her there.
—Maureen Lee Lenker, Entertainment Weekly, 11 Oct. 2025
Topwater lures produced a couple of thrilling peacock hits from fish up to 4½ pounds, as well as a number of misses.
—Steve Waters, Miami Herald, 10 Oct. 2025
In Marrakech, La Mamounia, which debuted a makeover on its 100th birthday in 2023, lures guests with design features like colorful mosaics and water fountains galore.
—Rachel Chang, AFAR Media, 10 Oct. 2025
Rendy Jones Jonathan Glazer’s Under the Skin is filled with indelible images, many of them surrounding the inky black pool of water into which Scarlett Johansson’s unnamed character lures her victims.
—Samantha Allen, Them., 7 Oct. 2025
But Ischia—which once attracted Hollywood royalty including Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton, on a break from filming Cleopatra, and still lures the likes of Robert DeNiro—isn’t really for the attention-seekers.
—Jacqui Gifford, Travel + Leisure, 29 Sep. 2025
Designed in China and fueled by kits sold or rented to threat actors around the world, these attacks are disguised as unpaid toll, undelivered package or motoring offense lures.
—Zak Doffman, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2025
Verb
The Modern’s intimate bar and restaurant lures both locals and travelers with high-quality cocktails and food.
—Michael Deeds, Idaho Statesman, 14 Oct. 2025
Buford wanted to understand the psychology of what lures people – usually men – to feed into the violence inspired by a sporting event.
—Ed Lavandera, CNN Money, 11 Oct. 2025
Trapped at sea On both page and screen, Carrie, the woman pretending to be Anne, lures Laura to the ship’s hold and traps her there.
—Maureen Lee Lenker, Entertainment Weekly, 11 Oct. 2025
Topwater lures produced a couple of thrilling peacock hits from fish up to 4½ pounds, as well as a number of misses.
—Steve Waters, Miami Herald, 10 Oct. 2025
In Marrakech, La Mamounia, which debuted a makeover on its 100th birthday in 2023, lures guests with design features like colorful mosaics and water fountains galore.
—Rachel Chang, AFAR Media, 10 Oct. 2025
Rendy Jones Jonathan Glazer’s Under the Skin is filled with indelible images, many of them surrounding the inky black pool of water into which Scarlett Johansson’s unnamed character lures her victims.
—Samantha Allen, Them., 7 Oct. 2025
But Ischia—which once attracted Hollywood royalty including Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton, on a break from filming Cleopatra, and still lures the likes of Robert DeNiro—isn’t really for the attention-seekers.
—Jacqui Gifford, Travel + Leisure, 29 Sep. 2025
Designed in China and fueled by kits sold or rented to threat actors around the world, these attacks are disguised as unpaid toll, undelivered package or motoring offense lures.
—Zak Doffman, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lures
Verb
-
Unwind Along the Coast Zanzibar, a Tanzanian archipelago off the coast of East Africa, tempts with spice tours, rooftop cocktails, and sunset dhow sails.—
Karin Jones,
Travel + Leisure,
4 Sep. 2025
-
The device contains, among other things, doorways to other dimensions, including one that tempts Peacemaker with a seemingly storybook version of his broken family.—
Brian Davids,
HollywoodReporter,
22 Aug. 2025
Noun
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For dining, guests can tuck into casual bistro fare at Rosélys, or graze at the 8,000-square-foot Marché Artisans, home to an artisanal bakery, a doughnut counter, a pizza oven, and crêpe and ice-cream stations, among other temptations.—
Siobhan Reid,
Vogue,
10 Oct. 2025
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New research into Rembrandt van Rijn’s 1642 masterpiece suggests that this barking dog was inspired by the title page of a widely available book on the temptations of the flesh, illustrated by the Dutch artist, poet and publisher Adriaen van de Venne.—
Senay Boztas,
CNN Money,
25 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Keep baits out of reach of kids and pets.—
Arricca Elin SanSone,
Southern Living,
22 Oct. 2025
-
At the emergency vet, Scout had normal vitals, and the professional at first thought that the dog was suffering from only an upset stomach caused by the baits.—
Kelli Bender,
PEOPLE,
30 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Everything about the scene seduces the viewer into what dining while traveling in the most luxurious fashion could be, and once was.—
Kristin L. Wolfe,
Forbes.com,
27 Aug. 2025
-
In his youth, the blue-eyed Stamp was widely considered one of the most handsome men onscreen, and Italian director Pier Paolo Pasolini used that to peculiar effect in Teorema (1968), casting the actor as a nameless and wordless visitor who seduces an entire household.—
Rhett Bartlett,
HollywoodReporter,
17 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
This has raised questions about whether the huge tax incentives and infrastructure investments these sites demand from state and municipal governments (such as power stations, transmission lines, water supply upgrades, and roads) will pay off for local communities.—
Sharon Goldman,
Fortune,
22 Oct. 2025
-
The report also describes incentives for landlords to make energy efficiency upgrades, citing a model in Atlanta targeted at landlords who accept rental assistance vouchers.—
Connor Giffin,
Louisville Courier Journal,
22 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The Kelly administration appealed that decision, delaying the financial punishment and buying time for its possible reversal through the appeals process or a court order.—
Matthew Kelly,
Kansas City Star,
22 Oct. 2025
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Such rote, nakedly procedural appeals inherently reek of moral relativism to the extent they are not grounded at all in any substantive conception of good and bad, or right and wrong.—
Josh Hammer,
MSNBC Newsweek,
22 Oct. 2025
Verb
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With showy wine-red blossoms that perfume the garden with the distinctive aromas of chocolate and vanilla from mid-summer through fall, chocolate cosmos entices butterflies and curious gardeners alike.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
3 Oct. 2025
-
The structure is illustrated below, with one player positioned on the byline and another level with the penalty area to form a triangle that entices opponents out to defend.—
Mark Carey,
New York Times,
14 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Some of these attractions in the maze include a biohazard unit, a butcher shop, a poacher camp and a witch’s cauldron.—
Abby Hamblin,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
23 Oct. 2025
-
The list also includes spooky attractions in Florida and Georgia.—
Meghan Overdeep,
Southern Living,
23 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Lures.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lures. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.
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