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
PCMAG, 4 Feb. 2025
Maurice Mitchell, national director of the Working Families Party, a progressive political party , said grassroots leaders have learned not to take the bait on every outrage.
—Phillip M. Bailey, USA TODAY, 2 Feb. 2025
Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 21 Jan. 2025
Marty Biagi is in charge of the special teams unit that returned a kickoff for a touchdown, kicked three field goals and baited Georgia into a key offsides penalty in the fourth quarter by quickly subbing out its entire punt team for the offense on fourth-and-1.
—Eddie Pells, Chicago Tribune, 4 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bait
Noun
Who Is Using Spill? Like dating apps, a social platform thrives if enough people show up and take the bait, which is somewhat out of the app's hands.
—PCMAG, 4 Feb. 2025
Maurice Mitchell, national director of the Working Families Party, a progressive political party , said grassroots leaders have learned not to take the bait on every outrage.
—Phillip M. Bailey, USA TODAY, 2 Feb. 2025
Verb
His ability to exploit Daniels’ aggression — baiting him into three first-half fouls — was critical, forcing the Hawks’ defensive anchor to the bench and limiting his usual effectiveness.
—Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 21 Jan. 2025
Marty Biagi is in charge of the special teams unit that returned a kickoff for a touchdown, kicked three field goals and baited Georgia into a key offsides penalty in the fourth quarter by quickly subbing out its entire punt team for the offense on fourth-and-1.
—Eddie Pells, Chicago Tribune, 4 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bait
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bait
Noun
-
The lure to escape with a special someone is strong when the moon activates Neptune.—
USA TODAY,
USA TODAY,
22 Feb. 2025
-
Stevenson, who will receive the award April 24, graduated from the University of Iowa with a degree in journalism, but the lure of golf was too strong to ignore.—
Steve Metsch,
Chicago Tribune,
22 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Robert Kagan: Trump is facing a catastrophic defeat in Ukraine Europeans and Americans, Democrats and Republicans, can resist the temptations of boredom and distraction.—
Anne Applebaum,
The Atlantic,
24 Feb. 2025
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For many, the temptation is to throw up their hands in frustration, but giving in to hopelessness is not an option.—
Marybeth Gasman,
Forbes,
24 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Goliath was a character who taunted and terrified the entire army of Israel for 40 days.—
Bryan Alexander,
USA TODAY,
28 Feb. 2025
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According to Carranza, another student was taunting her daughter, saying that her family would be deported, and Jocelynn would be left alone.—
Ed Lavandera,
CNN,
20 Feb. 2025
Verb
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You may be tempted to fall back and go to sleep right then and there.—
Yelena Moroz Alpert,
Architectural Digest,
7 Mar. 2025
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The way their needs stack up, they may be tempted to spend free-agency dollars, premium draft capital or both on positions that typically do not command such resources.—
Parker Gabriel,
The Denver Post,
7 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Later, the ladies end up falling into the trap of talking about politics at dinner (been there!).—
Dan Heching,
CNN,
3 Mar. 2025
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The pandemic and years of economic mismanagement by former military strongman Desi Bouterse had placed Suriname in a debt trap.—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
28 Feb. 2025
Verb
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The token will also be an acceptable form of payment at restaurant chains, Stebbing teased, and even potentially soon in kids' school cafeteria lines.—
Ars Technica,
Ars Technica,
28 Feb. 2025
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Editor's Note: Nothing has already teased the Nothing Phone (3a) series, which will arrive on March 4.—
Julian Chokkattu,
WIRED,
28 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Cruz, 'Vicky Cristina Barcelona' (2009) Woody Allen's romantic comedy stars Rebecca Hall and Scarlett Johansson as friends who travel to Spain and are seduced by a local painter (Javier Bardem).—
Brian Truitt,
USA TODAY,
25 Feb. 2025
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Cookbook authors suggested preparing French food at home to seduce a lover.—
Rachel Hope Cleves / Made by History,
TIME,
14 Feb. 2025
Noun
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The most important variation is the hook placement.—
Derek Horner,
Outdoor Life,
27 Feb. 2025
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This would be like NBA teams back in the day trying to ban Kareem’s sky hook or MLB teams outlawing Mariano Rivera’s cutter.—
Mike Bianchi,
Orlando Sentinel,
26 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Bait.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bait. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.
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