LEAD ON Synonyms: 39 Similar and Opposite Words

lead on

verb

Definition of lead on

as in to tempt

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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Recent Examples of Synonyms for lead on

Verb

Donald has been tempted to return ever since the Rams made the blockbuster trade for reigning Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett.

— Nate Atkins, New York Times, 1 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 tempt

Verb

Kehoe and other supporters argued that eliminating the income tax would boost the state’s economy and lure new companies and residents to Missouri.

— Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 5 Aug. 2026
Charges say the woman's son orchestrated a robbery targeting Goodsell, using another man's phone and vehicle to lure him.

— WCCO Staff, CBS News, 5 Aug. 2026

Definition of lure

Verb

Ted was genuinely out of his depth, the conflicts felt earned, and the show still had to persuade audiences that its relentless optimism wasn’t naïve.

— Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 5 Aug. 2026
The research body also found that as part of the same effort, the agent tried to contact real people directly, sending messages and files to persuade them to run malicious code.

— Kai Nicol-Schwarz, CNBC, 5 Aug. 2026

Definition of persuade

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“Lead on.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lead%20on. Accessed 7 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of lead on

verb

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