clickbait
noun
click·bait
ˈklik-ˌbāt 
: something (such as a headline) designed to make readers want to click on a hyperlink especially when the link leads to content of dubious value or interest
It is difficult to remember a time when you could scroll through the social media outlet of your choice and not be bombarded with: You'll never believe what happened when … This is the cutest thing ever … This the biggest mistake you can make … Take this quiz to see which character you are on … They are all classic clickbait models.—
Emily Shire
Emily ShireExamples of clickbait in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Brothers, fighters, and influencers Jake and Logan Paul pulled some clickbait earlier this week with a promo that looked like they were headed for a brawl in the ring.
—Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 30 Jan. 2025
Other times, once-popular sites whose domains were sold and repurposed by clickbait farms have been highlighted by Google.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 7 Apr. 2025
And in this age of clickbait journalism, even those members of the legacy media have resorted to libelous headlines and false reports to generate views.
—Zach Schonfeld, The Hill, 24 Mar. 2025
Content is simply there, clogging up the arteries of streaming services and clickbait sites, offering up buffets of empty calories and almost instant amnesia.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 14 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for clickbait
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Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 30 Jan. 2025
Other times, once-popular sites whose domains were sold and repurposed by clickbait farms have been highlighted by Google.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 7 Apr. 2025
And in this age of clickbait journalism, even those members of the legacy media have resorted to libelous headlines and false reports to generate views.
—Zach Schonfeld, The Hill, 24 Mar. 2025
Content is simply there, clogging up the arteries of streaming services and clickbait sites, offering up buffets of empty calories and almost instant amnesia.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 14 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for clickbait
Cite this Entry
“Clickbait.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/clickbait. Accessed 8 May. 2025.
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