BAIT Synonyms: 150 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'bait' distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of bait are badger , chivy , heckle , hector , and hound . While all these words mean "to harass by efforts to break down," bait implies wanton cruelty or delight in persecuting a helpless victim. // baited the chained dog

Q: When can 'badger' be used instead of 'bait'?

Although the words badger and bait have much in common, badger implies pestering so as to drive a person to confusion or frenzy. // badgered her father for a car

Q: When would 'chivy' be a good substitute for 'bait'?

While the synonyms chivy and bait are close in meaning, chivy suggests persecution by teasing or nagging. // chivied the new student mercilessly

Q: When is it sensible to use 'heckle' instead of 'bait'?

The words heckle and bait are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, heckle implies persistent annoying or belligerent interruptions of a speaker. // drunks heckled the stand-up comic

Q: When could 'hector' be used to replace 'bait'?

The words hector and bait can be used in similar contexts, but hector carries an implication of bullying and domineering. // football players hectored by their coach

Q: Where would 'hound' be a reasonable alternative to 'bait'?

The meanings of hound and bait largely overlap; however, hound implies unrelenting pursuit and harassing. // hounded by creditors

bait 1 of 2

noun

Definition of bait next

as in lure

something used to attract animals to a hook or into a trap cheese is the traditional bait for trapping mice

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in temptation

something that persuades one to perform an action for pleasure or gain the promise of free vacation is surefire bait to get people to agree to be chaperones for school trips

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

bait

2 of 2

verb

ˈbāt

as in to taunt

to attack repeatedly with mean put-downs or insults I wished the candidates would stop baiting each other and instead address the real issues

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in to lure

to lead away from a usual or proper course by offering some pleasure or advantage the investment scheme cunningly baits the greedy and the unscrupulous

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word bait distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of bait are badger, chivy, heckle, hector, and hound. While all these words mean "to harass by efforts to break down," bait implies wanton cruelty or delight in persecuting a helpless victim.

baited the chained dog

When can badger be used instead of bait?

Although the words badger and bait have much in common, badger implies pestering so as to drive a person to confusion or frenzy.

badgered her father for a car

When would chivy be a good substitute for bait?

While the synonyms chivy and bait are close in meaning, chivy suggests persecution by teasing or nagging.

chivied the new student mercilessly

When is it sensible to use heckle instead of bait?

The words heckle and bait are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, heckle implies persistent annoying or belligerent interruptions of a speaker.

drunks heckled the stand-up comic

When could hector be used to replace bait?

The words hector and bait can be used in similar contexts, but hector carries an implication of bullying and domineering.

football players hectored by their coach

Where would hound be a reasonable alternative to bait?

The meanings of hound and bait largely overlap; however, hound implies unrelenting pursuit and harassing.

hounded by creditors

Examples Sentences

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 bait

Noun

Tonya, knowing that Masha wanted to talk about the war, kept trying to turn the conversation in that direction, but the other women didn’t take the bait. —

Keith Gessen, The New Yorker, 10 Jan. 2025 But The Rock, a pro as always, kept his game face on and didn’t take the bait. —

Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 6 Jan. 2025

Verb

Fishermen baited a trap with fruit and dropped it into a river in southern India. —

Aspen Pflughoeft, Miami Herald, 2 Jan. 2025 The boys spudded as many holes as Michigan law allows, the tip-ups were set up, and the hooks were baited. —

Erwin A. Bauer, Outdoor Life, 25 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for bait

Recent Examples of Synonyms for bait

Noun

Meanwhile, Lorenzen was becoming a regular winner at O’Hare Stadium’s quarter-mile oval near his hometown, and the lure of a NASCAR return became strong.

— Bruce Martin, Forbes, 18 Dec. 2024
Years later, in 1941 and just after the Great Depression, the lure of the resort was still making headlines.

— Stacey Barchenger, The Arizona Republic, 3 Dec. 2024