1
as in taunting
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 tempting
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 baiting
Jared Weiss, New York Times, 13 May 2026
Diners aren’t baiting first-bite TikTok reaction shots.
—Bill Addison, Los Angeles Times, 23 Apr. 2026
One of the most well-known is Kitboga, a YouTube personality, scammer-baiting streamer, and the founder of an anti-scam software company.
—Kim Key, PC Magazine, 3 Apr. 2026
The replies are mostly AI bots, or rage-baiting stan accounts.
—Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 15 Feb. 2026
Never mind foul-baiting and load management, the hottest topics circling the NBA in 2026 are tanking and the opposite – trying too hard to win, allegedly, in the Clippers’ case.
—Mirjam Swanson, Oc Register, 15 Feb. 2026
The city's Bureau of Rodent Control has around 20 baiting crews throughout Chicago during peak season, responding to more than 100,000 service requests per year.
—Tara Molina, CBS News, 13 Feb. 2026
Kevin Huerter drew an offensive foul when the Lakers tried to push their luck in transition by baiting James into pushing his arm into Huerter’s neck.
—Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 27 Jan. 2026
Start with uncovered cups, then increase difficulty by baiting only some cups to encourage scent work.
—Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Dec. 2025
Verb
The rage baiting won’t work anymore.
—Jared Weiss, New York Times, 13 May 2026
Diners aren’t baiting first-bite TikTok reaction shots.
—Bill Addison, Los Angeles Times, 23 Apr. 2026
One of the most well-known is Kitboga, a YouTube personality, scammer-baiting streamer, and the founder of an anti-scam software company.
—Kim Key, PC Magazine, 3 Apr. 2026
The replies are mostly AI bots, or rage-baiting stan accounts.
—Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 15 Feb. 2026
Never mind foul-baiting and load management, the hottest topics circling the NBA in 2026 are tanking and the opposite – trying too hard to win, allegedly, in the Clippers’ case.
—Mirjam Swanson, Oc Register, 15 Feb. 2026
The city's Bureau of Rodent Control has around 20 baiting crews throughout Chicago during peak season, responding to more than 100,000 service requests per year.
—Tara Molina, CBS News, 13 Feb. 2026
Kevin Huerter drew an offensive foul when the Lakers tried to push their luck in transition by baiting James into pushing his arm into Huerter’s neck.
—Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 27 Jan. 2026
Start with uncovered cups, then increase difficulty by baiting only some cups to encourage scent work.
—Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for baiting
Adjective
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To get a sense of his whole deal, look no further than the half-mocking, half-earnest title of his latest album, Country!—
Jonathan Bernstein,
Rolling Stone,
23 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Heck, every club’s supporters were taunting them this way.—
Daniel Taylor,
New York Times,
14 May 2026
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Hide and Seek follows a new string of murders featuring a dangerous stalker who kidnaps their victims before killing them, taunting them via text in the format of a popular Danish children’s counting rhyme (though the words chosen by the killer are far more violent).—
Barry Levitt,
Time,
7 May 2026
Verb
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But that doesn’t mean we never get stuck in the dark corners of our pasts, tempting our regrets to rise up and annihilate us.—
Judy Berman,
Time,
5 May 2026
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But if the promise of these sights wasn’t tempting enough, Airbnb has a number of jaw-dropping listings that allow travelers to enjoy the country with a more immersive experience—like the opulent Villa Il Cigno, located directly on the shores of Lake Como.—
Merrell Readman,
Travel + Leisure,
11 Apr. 2026
Verb
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All the thespian’s chemistry felt less like castmates promoting a production and more like siblings teasing one another out of deep affection.—
Clayton Davis,
Variety,
18 May 2026
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Luther Ford’s start in this industry began with a teasing dare from his relatives.—
Lily Ford,
HollywoodReporter,
14 May 2026
Verb
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By Ellie Krieger For The Washington Post Deeply savory foods have a magnetic pull for me, luring me in like no sweet possibly could.—
The Washington Post,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
13 May 2026
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Promising rebates of up to 40% on an infamously expensive art form, tax incentives for film and television production — now offered by nearly four dozen countries — have been instrumental in luring the industry from its traditional capital in Los Angeles to locations around the globe.—
Leila Berger,
Los Angeles Times,
11 May 2026
Adjective
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Then, Metric’s peak came on 2009’s Fantasies, which paired needling electronics with thumping drum programming; both it and its follow-up, Synthetica, hit the top 10 on the Canadian albums chart and went platinum in Canada.—
Ethan Beck,
Pitchfork,
4 May 2026
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For power users, this sort of thing can’t help but read as needling, even petty platform quirks.—
Eric Vilas-Boas,
Vulture,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Hours later, Venus slips into sentimental Cancer, seducing the atmosphere with intuition, emotional waves and spell-binding fantasy.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
8 May 2026
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Nate plays his older neighbors like a fiddle, seducing them with his beauty, money, and youth.—
Rafaela Bassili,
Vulture,
20 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Reuters reported that BlackRock CEO Larry Fink, who hosted the dinner of some 200 people as co-chair of the World Economic Forum, ended the dinner after the heckling incident — before dessert was served.—
Ashleigh Fields,
The Hill,
22 Jan. 2026
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Vice President Vance appeared on FOX News Channel’s The Ingraham Angle hours after the heckling incident, telling the host about visiting with the national guardsmen and discussing recent changes to the city, while briefly mentioning the protesters.—
Jillian Frankel,
People.com,
21 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Baiting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/baiting. Accessed 21 May. 2026.
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