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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of bait
Joe Cermele, Outdoor Life, 5 June 2025
Sensational headlines and rage bait are designed to exploit Internet algorithms, and are good signals to disengage, question the content or get a parent’s opinion.
—Evan Orticio, Scientific American, 2 June 2025
Arpon Basu, New York Times, 22 Apr. 2025
Trump administration live updates Republicans also criticized Democrats for twice baiting CBO into hypothetical analyses that were not necessarily intended to be published.
—John Parkinson, ABC News, 12 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for bait
Noun
There have, of course, been attempts to inject microchips and electronics into lures and baits.
—Joe Cermele, Outdoor Life, 5 June 2025
Sensational headlines and rage bait are designed to exploit Internet algorithms, and are good signals to disengage, question the content or get a parent’s opinion.
—Evan Orticio, Scientific American, 2 June 2025
Verb
Leonard was buzzing around the net and effectively baited Canadiens defenceman Kaiden Guhle into some post-whistle contact.
—Arpon Basu, New York Times, 22 Apr. 2025
Trump administration live updates Republicans also criticized Democrats for twice baiting CBO into hypothetical analyses that were not necessarily intended to be published.
—John Parkinson, ABC News, 12 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for bait
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bait
Noun
-
Throw in the stakes — the lure of golf immortality (or at the very least, a healthy paycheck for making the cut) for the pros and the walk of a lifetime for amateurs like dentist turned qualifier Matt Vogt — and yeah, things can drag on a bit.—
Will Graves,
Chicago Tribune,
14 June 2025
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But right now, even while battling down the order and failing to score points, the lure of 2026 and Aston’s potential future results, particularly with Newey on board, continue to spur Alonso on.—
Luke Smith,
New York Times,
31 May 2025
Noun
-
The temptation to check messages, see what the latest notification is, etc. could pull audience members away from the live speaker.—
Roger Dooley,
Forbes.com,
13 June 2025
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The Trump administration must resist the temptation to focus on showy public-facing policies, such as unilateral drone strikes, which would practically force Sheinbaum to reduce cooperation in defense of Mexican sovereignty.—
WILL FREEMAN,
Foreign Affairs,
9 June 2025
Verb
-
The arrest happened after demonstrators throughout the week got close to law enforcement, ridiculing and taunting them.—
Alexandra Koch , Matt Finn,
FOXNews.com,
14 June 2025
-
Following her victory, Naomi took to social media to taunt her former partner.—
Andrew Ravens,
MSNBC Newsweek,
13 June 2025
Verb
-
Research even suggests that delaying goal failure, rather than giving in immediately when you’re tempted to engage in a behavior that defeats your goals, helps maintain a positive self-perception of self-control.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
9 June 2025
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Our tester liked the Rogue H2 so much that he was tempted to add it to his own home gym.—
Sherry Kuehl,
Kansas City Star,
4 June 2025
Noun
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Mazzotti said iguanas love the color red — biologists often lure them into traps with red flowers, strawberries or even red marbles.—
Bill Kearney,
Sun Sentinel,
6 June 2025
-
During their surveys, researchers set up mist nets of various sizes and waited to see what flew into the traps, the study said.—
Aspen Pflughoeft,
Miami Herald,
6 June 2025
Verb
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Nickelback gets teased a lot as a band, as the group's name has become synonymous with a past era in music — but that doesn't mean the rock outfit isn't still hugely successful.—
Hugh McIntyre,
Forbes.com,
16 June 2025
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Despite the abrupt exit, Starkey teased that the subject of returning has already come up among him and his former bandmates.—
Shania Russell,
EW.com,
15 June 2025
Verb
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As their powerbrokers get seduced by the riches of T20 franchise cricket and as popularity for Test cricket declines among their countrymen, South Africa’s future in the longest and most traditional format has been of major concern.—
Tristan Lavalette,
Forbes.com,
14 June 2025
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American culture has long inspired military service, with recruits seduced by action movies and promises of heroic returns to the U.S.—
Jacob Ware,
The Conversation,
12 June 2025
Noun
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With 23 degrees of freedom and powerful knee joints, these robots can throw hooks and side kicks and recover quickly after a fall.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
14 June 2025
-
Public benefits were reserved primarily for the families of veterans, and private charity went almost exclusively to widows, for even do-gooders were loath to let absent fathers off the hook by helping their children.—
Augustine Sedgewick,
Time,
13 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Bait.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bait. Accessed 20 Jun. 2025.
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