decoy

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noun

de·​coy ˈdē-ˌkȯi  di-ˈkȯi 

1

hunting : a pond into which wildfowl are lured for capture

2

: someone or something used to lure or lead another into a trap

the commander of that sub … took us to be a decoy

—H. A. Chippendale

especially, hunting : an artificial bird used to attract live birds within shot

3

: someone or something used to draw attention away from another

had a decoy distract the guard

decoy

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verb

de·​coy di-ˈkȯi  ˈdē-ˌkȯi 

decoyed; decoying; decoys

transitive verb

hunting

: to lure by or as if by a decoy : entice

decoying ducks to a pond

The undercover cop decoyed the fugitive into a trap.

Synonyms

Noun

• bait
• lure

Verb

• allure
• bait
• beguile
• betray
• entice
• lead on
• lure
• seduce
• solicit
• tempt

Choose the Right Synonym for decoy

lure, entice, inveigle, decoy, tempt, seduce mean to lead astray from one's true course.

lure implies a drawing into danger, evil, or difficulty through attracting and deceiving.

lured naive investors with get-rich-quick schemes

entice suggests drawing by artful or adroit means.

advertising designed to entice new customers

inveigle implies enticing by cajoling or flattering.

fund-raisers inveigling wealthy alumni

decoy implies a luring into entrapment by artifice.

attempting to decoy the enemy into an ambush

tempt implies the presenting of an attraction so strong that it overcomes the restraints of conscience or better judgment.

tempted by the offer of money

seduce implies a leading astray by persuasion or false promises.

seduced by assurances of assistance

Examples of decoy in a Sentence

Noun

He had a decoy distract the guard while he jumped over the fence.

we set the decoy afloat in the marsh and from the blind waited for the ducks to arrive

Verb

tacky souvenir shops to which first-time tourists had been decoyed into spending their hard-earned money

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

More sophisticated and convincing decoys have also been deployed. —Vikram Mittal, Forbes, 3 Mar. 2025

Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace (1999) After making her small screen debut aged eight, a 14-year-old Knightley entered the big leagues in George Lucas’s sci-fi epic, as a dutiful handmaiden to the pale-faced queen (Natalie Portman), who serves as her steely decoy. —Radhika Seth, Vogue, 26 Mar. 2025

Verb

The Ukrainian air force said Russia fired 78 strike and decoy drones. —Arkansas Online, 5 Apr. 2025

Russian troops, meanwhile, fired 99 attack and decoy drones into Ukraine overnight Sunday, according to Ukraine’s air force, of which 57 were shot down and 36 were lost from radar. —TIME, 24 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Verb

probably from Dutch de kooi, literally, the cage

First Known Use

Noun

1630, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1648, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for decoy

• ahoy
• alloy
• annoy
• carboy
• convoy
• cowboy
• deploy
• destroy
• employ
• employe
• enjoy
• kilroy

Kids Definition

decoy

1 of 2 noun

de·​coy ˈdē-ˌkȯi  di-ˈkȯi 

1

: something intended to lure into a trap

especially : an artificial bird used to attract live birds within shooting range

2

: a person used to lead another into a trap

decoy

2 of 2 verb

di-ˈkȯi,

ˈdē-ˌkȯi

: to attract by or as if by a decoy : entice