as in bait
something used to attract animals to a hook or into a trap
we set the decoy afloat in the marsh and from the blind waited for the ducks to arrive
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to lure
to lead away from a usual or proper course by offering some pleasure or advantage
tacky souvenir shops to which first-time tourists had been decoyed into spending their hard-earned money
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of decoy
David Szondy, New Atlas, 6 Feb. 2025
The people on the receiving end of those chats were decoys, as in adults posing as kids.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 27 Jan. 2025
Benedict Cosgrove, Newsweek, 19 Dec. 2024
Don’t be aggressive with calling, rattling, or decoying since reclusive bucks rarely respond well to those aggressive tactics.
—Josh Honeycutt, Outdoor Life, 22 Nov. 2024
See All Example Sentences for decoy
Noun
Then there is the problem of protecting these interceptors, sensors, and communications satellites from enemy anti-satellite weapons – not to mention how to deal with decoys and other deception devices.
—David Szondy, New Atlas, 6 Feb. 2025
The people on the receiving end of those chats were decoys, as in adults posing as kids.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 27 Jan. 2025
Verb
Some £68 million ($85.5 million) will go toward air defense equipment including radars, decoy land equipment, and counter-drone electronic warfare systems.
—Benedict Cosgrove, Newsweek, 19 Dec. 2024
Don’t be aggressive with calling, rattling, or decoying since reclusive bucks rarely respond well to those aggressive tactics.
—Josh Honeycutt, Outdoor Life, 22 Nov. 2024
See All Example Sentences for decoy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for decoy
Noun
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The America's Next Top Model creator repeatedly tried to get the Coyote cast to sing the tune, though none of them took the bait.—
Rachel Flynn,
People.com,
27 Feb. 2025
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Within minutes, at least two of the employees took the bait and followed instructions to open the Quick Assist remote access app built into Windows and hand off control of their desktops to the person on the other end.—
Dan Goodin,
Ars Technica,
21 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Epstein, a billionaire, had legitimate business and social meetings on the island that were unrelated to his attempts to lure underage girls.—
Dan Perry,
Newsweek,
28 Feb. 2025
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They were formally indicted last year, accused of being part of a criminal organization that exploited women after luring them to Romania.—
Muri Assunção,
New York Daily News,
27 Feb. 2025
Verb
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As per usual, the NFL player was in the comment section fawning over the singer and tempting her with a good time.—
Elizabeth Ayoola,
Essence,
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
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
Verb
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But the black-and-white film about two Black couples, played by the same actors, living in Chicago during two different time periods, didn’t entice distributors.—
Chris O'Falt,
IndieWire,
28 Feb. 2025
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Instead, General Catalyst is in rapid expansion mode — trying to build the sort of diversified, fee-generating asset base that would entice Wall Street analysts to use firms like Blackstone as comps.—
Dan Primack,
Axios,
28 Feb. 2025
Verb
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The ethos resonates with Lugano’s down-to-earth yet powerful clientele so much so that the company persuaded eight of its VIPs to star in its latest ad campaign free of charge.—
Paige Reddinger,
Robb Report,
1 Mar. 2025
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Mexican residents targeted In 1915, James Rawlings, secretary-manager of the Fort Worth Relief Association, persuaded U.S. immigration agents to investigate Mexican people living in Dallas Alley.—
Richard J. Gonzales,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
1 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Decoy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/decoy. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.
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