1
as in lure
something used to attract animals to a hook or into a trap
cheese is the traditional bait for trapping mice
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in temptation
something that persuades one to perform an action for pleasure or gain
the promise of free vacation is surefire bait to get people to agree to be chaperones for school trips
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to taunt
to attack repeatedly with mean put-downs or insults
I wished the candidates would stop baiting each other and instead address the real issues
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in to lure
to lead away from a usual or proper course by offering some pleasure or advantage
the investment scheme cunningly baits the greedy and the unscrupulous
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of bait
Duane Byrge, HollywoodReporter, 26 June 2025
If not for Thompson's breakout this past season, the Rockets might not have been emboldened to cut bait on Green and accelerate their win-now window.
—Bryan Toporek, Forbes.com, 23 June 2025
Michael Saponara, Billboard, 9 June 2025
That makes baiting them difficult, especially because their colonies – typically fairly small and flat – are hard to spot.
—Elizabeth Weise, USA Today, 9 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for bait
Noun
He was considered a possible Democratic Party presidential candidate but never took the bait.
—Duane Byrge, HollywoodReporter, 26 June 2025
If not for Thompson's breakout this past season, the Rockets might not have been emboldened to cut bait on Green and accelerate their win-now window.
—Bryan Toporek, Forbes.com, 23 June 2025
Verb
Joey Bada$$ continued to bait Kendrick Lamar by taking swipes at the Compton MC, but Lamar never ended up issuing an official response.
—Michael Saponara, Billboard, 9 June 2025
That makes baiting them difficult, especially because their colonies – typically fairly small and flat – are hard to spot.
—Elizabeth Weise, USA Today, 9 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for bait
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bait
Noun
-
Hefty incentives packages from the city and the state were also a strong lure.—
Kate Marijolovic,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
2 July 2025
-
In Los Angeles, the boom translated to an influx of new workers who had moved west, seduced by the lure of movies as much as the location’s oil fields and automobile manufacturers, and the city saw its population double between 1920 and 1925.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
24 June 2025
Noun
-
The United States economy is vastly different from ancient Rome’s, with one important exception: there remains today the same temptation to finance public promises with money created out of thin air.—
Dave Birnbaum,
Forbes.com,
4 July 2025
-
Cancellara’s allusion to Van Aert showcases the temptation to include other riders.—
Jacob Whitehead,
New York Times,
3 July 2025
Verb
-
Both organizations claimed Hinton taunted deputies at his arraignment.—
Erin Glynn,
The Enquirer,
3 July 2025
-
For the last 15 years, Chicago’s drill rap scene has often led to fatal gun violence as rival artists trade insults and threats through their lyrics and social media taunts.—
Caroline Kubzansky,
Chicago Tribune,
3 July 2025
Verb
-
Children may be tempted to touch the flames, which can reach temperatures of up to 1,800 degrees and some run with them, sometimes leading to eye impalement.—
Beth Warren,
The Tennessean,
4 July 2025
-
At month 10, schedule a conversation focused entirely on what might tempt them away.—
Jodie Cook,
Forbes.com,
4 July 2025
Noun
-
Luthor — with the backing of the U.S. government — traps both aliens and political opponents in an off-site prison, located in a pocket dimension.—
Siddhant Adlakha,
Vulture,
11 July 2025
-
Affluent families sometimes fall into the trap of overprotecting their kids, removing all struggle in the name of love.—
Anatoly Iofe,
Forbes.com,
11 July 2025
Verb
-
The first step is a boot camp in a mountainous ski resort, where Karolina is teased by the other girls and gets so much preferential treatment from Vitek that Lucie, enraged, locks her outside in the snow and nearly kills her in the process.—
Damon Wise,
Deadline,
10 July 2025
-
Since last year, Justin Bieber has been teasing the launch of his new fashion brand, Skylrk.—
Christian Allaire,
Vogue,
10 July 2025
Verb
-
But what really seduced me was the transgressive idea of imagining who else lives inside each of us.—
Jamie Lang,
Variety,
19 June 2025
-
Teenagers and their parents can be easily seduced, so Underwood is respected for his role in keeping those players at Thorp Arch.—
Beren Cross,
New York Times,
16 June 2025
Noun
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The stylish tree features six lower cubbies, three rustic woven baskets, three double-pronged hooks, and an open shelf for maximum organization.—
Mariana Best,
Better Homes & Gardens,
9 July 2025
-
Include subject lines, hooks, and CTAs where needed.—
William Arruda,
Forbes.com,
8 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Bait.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bait. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.
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