as in tempting
to lead away from a usual or proper course by offering some pleasure or advantage
a con man whose dupes are usually led on by their own greed and eagerness to turn an easy buck
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of leading on
Henning is a Managing Director at Glossary Artists, leading on talent strategy, brand partnerships, and long-term career growth for creators and talent from entertainment and digital media.
—
Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 18 Mar. 2026
Maryland is leading on this issue.
—Baltimore Sun Staff, Baltimore Sun, 11 Feb. 2026
And, a year ago, Republicans were the ones leading on the congressional ballot, showing just how much the landscape has shifted in Democrats' favor.
—Domenico Montanaro, NPR, 9 Feb. 2026
Being Different means standing apart - leading on innovation and setting trends.
—Steven Wolfe Pereira, Forbes.com, 27 Jan. 2026
Formichetti has previously held roles at Mugler, Diesel and Uniqlo, leading on artistic and creative direction.
—Vogue Business Team, Vogue, 4 Nov. 2025
America, after years of leading on tech and economic growth, is cutting itself off from global trade to protect manufacturing jobs few actually want to do.
—Renaud Foucart, Time, 28 Sep. 2025
Ramps leading on and off the interstate.
—Idaho Statesman, 13 Aug. 2025
Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 18 Mar. 2026
Maryland is leading on this issue.
—Baltimore Sun Staff, Baltimore Sun, 11 Feb. 2026
And, a year ago, Republicans were the ones leading on the congressional ballot, showing just how much the landscape has shifted in Democrats' favor.
—Domenico Montanaro, NPR, 9 Feb. 2026
Being Different means standing apart - leading on innovation and setting trends.
—Steven Wolfe Pereira, Forbes.com, 27 Jan. 2026
Formichetti has previously held roles at Mugler, Diesel and Uniqlo, leading on artistic and creative direction.
—Vogue Business Team, Vogue, 4 Nov. 2025
America, after years of leading on tech and economic growth, is cutting itself off from global trade to protect manufacturing jobs few actually want to do.
—Renaud Foucart, Time, 28 Sep. 2025
Ramps leading on and off the interstate.
—Idaho Statesman, 13 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for leading on
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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Two men were sentenced to years in prison after pleading guilty to felony second-degree kidnapping for luring a man to the Eagle Foothills on an offer of a photography shoot, but then tasing, restraining and beating him last fall.—
Kevin Fixler,
Idaho Statesman,
22 May 2026
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Meta and other big tech companies have been placing huge bets on artificial intelligence, luring talent with giant pay packages and building multibillion dollar data centers to try to win the AI race — one in which Meta lags behind competitors such as OpenAI, Anthropic and Google.—
John Ruwitch,
NPR,
20 May 2026
Verb
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That means seducing Paris Carver, Elliot's wife and Bond's ex, portrayed by Teri Hatcher.—
John Russell,
PEOPLE,
19 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
Verb
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But there is little evidence that the AI ads, in themselves, are persuading new voters.—
National Correspondent,
Los Angeles Times,
18 May 2026
-
Influencers have become a routine part of persuading voters in local, state and national races as legacy media’s reach has waned, though there are few laws on the books regulating them.—
Lia Russell,
Sacbee.com,
15 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Leading on.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/leading%20on. Accessed 27 May. 2026.
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