DECOYING Synonyms: 39 Similar and Opposite Words

decoying

verb

present participle of decoy

as in tempting

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

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Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of decoying Pigeon hunting in Argentina offers the opportunity for decoying birds and was the most fun of the species to hunt there, in my opinion. — Alex Robinson, Outdoor Life, 12 Aug. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for decoying

Verb

However, when one of the three women feels guilty about snubbing their lifelong pal, Mel shows up and suddenly the weekend turns to complete chaos, tempting the trio to break free from the madness that has hobbled their friend group for years.

— Tim Lammers, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026
Others tried to widen their gaze to make sure their eyes would be open as the camera clicked, though the afternoon sun was tempting us to squint.

— Danny Heitman, Christian Science Monitor, 31 July 2026

Definition of tempting

Verb

Even as other states and foreign governments invested in their own film industries and began luring away productions from California, lawmakers in Sacramento were initially skeptical of giving tax breaks to producers.

— Stacy Perman, Los Angeles Times, 20 Aug. 2026
In his executive order, DeSantis noted the charges Caruso is facing, which include lewd or lascivious molestation, lewd or lascivious exhibition, kidnapping, child abuse causing mental injury, and luring or enticing a child.

— Ana Maria Soler, CBS News, 18 Aug. 2026

Definition of luring

Verb

Still, with more than 40,000 industry jobs lost in the past few years, soundstages and vendor storefronts sitting empty, and lucrative overseas incentives seducing even more production away, things are bleak in town right now.

— Dominic Patten, Deadline, 6 Aug. 2026
The young women acted as underground assassins, seducing Nazi officers, luring them into the woods and killing them.

— Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 28 July 2026

Definition of seducing

Verb

In his executive order, DeSantis noted the charges Caruso is facing, which include lewd or lascivious molestation, lewd or lascivious exhibition, kidnapping, child abuse causing mental injury, and luring or enticing a child.

— Ana Maria Soler, CBS News, 18 Aug. 2026
Fall fashion tends to kickstart our lust for the new season as brands start to launch enticing pre-fall collections.

— ABC News, ABC News, 12 Aug. 2026

Definition of enticing

Verb

The king’s openness in talking about his diagnosis has been credited with persuading more men to be tested for prostate cancer and other forms of the disease.

— Danica Kirka, Chicago Tribune, 19 Aug. 2026
Every significant change requires persuading governments that frequently disagree on nearly everything else.

— Bethany Mandel, The Washington Examiner, 16 Aug. 2026

Definition of persuading

Verb

Warriors fans might just have to stomach a few shameless foul-baiting antics in a late back-to-back in Oklahoma City.

— Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 13 Aug. 2026
The genre, with its sanitized storylines and Oscar-baiting pretensions, seems fundamentally at odds with the iconoclastic chef and television personality.

— Seija Rankin, HollywoodReporter, 6 Aug. 2026

Definition of baiting

Browse Nearby Words

decoyed

decoying

decoys

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“Decoying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/decoying. Accessed 25 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of decoying

verb

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