as in baits
something used to attract animals to a hook or into a trap
we set the decoy afloat in the marsh and from the blind waited for the ducks to arrive
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in lures
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of decoys
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 22 Apr. 2026
Sound deterrents are most effective when used in combination with visual deterrents such as plastic owl decoys or reflective items such as tape, old CDs, or streamers.
—Molly Burford, Southern Living, 22 Apr. 2026
Be ultra careful with turkey decoys on public land.
—Alex Robinson, Outdoor Life, 16 Apr. 2026
Students Build the ‘Frankenbird’ The robotic decoys were built by students from Jackson Hole High School working with Gary Duquette, a former engineering teacher who now mentors robotics students through the nonprofit Wonder Institute.
—Samantha Agate, Kansas City Star, 14 Apr. 2026
Both sides have made effective use of decoys, such as plywood M777 howitzers that are cheaper and easier to replace than the drones used to destroy them.
—Brynn Tannehill, The Atlantic, 31 Mar. 2026
Sources told the Associated Press that Russia’s improvements on the Shahed drone include decoys meant to divert air defenses, jet engines, cameras, advanced anti-jammers, radio links, AI computing platforms, as well as Starlink capabilities that no longer work in Ukraine.
—Jason Ma, Fortune, 29 Mar. 2026
If anything, there’s little about Vokietaitis’ game that involves decoys.
—Kirk Bohls, Houston Chronicle, 20 Mar. 2026
Igloo White was often misled by Vietnamese decoys.
—Jon R. Lindsay, The Conversation, 11 Mar. 2026
Jason Newman, Rolling Stone, 20 Sep. 2025
Noun
Responses—whether soft-kill decoys or next-generation hard-kill solutions—are deployed with speed and precision, according to the company.
—Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 22 Apr. 2026
Sound deterrents are most effective when used in combination with visual deterrents such as plastic owl decoys or reflective items such as tape, old CDs, or streamers.
—Molly Burford, Southern Living, 22 Apr. 2026
Be ultra careful with turkey decoys on public land.
—Alex Robinson, Outdoor Life, 16 Apr. 2026
Students Build the ‘Frankenbird’ The robotic decoys were built by students from Jackson Hole High School working with Gary Duquette, a former engineering teacher who now mentors robotics students through the nonprofit Wonder Institute.
—Samantha Agate, Kansas City Star, 14 Apr. 2026
Both sides have made effective use of decoys, such as plywood M777 howitzers that are cheaper and easier to replace than the drones used to destroy them.
—Brynn Tannehill, The Atlantic, 31 Mar. 2026
Sources told the Associated Press that Russia’s improvements on the Shahed drone include decoys meant to divert air defenses, jet engines, cameras, advanced anti-jammers, radio links, AI computing platforms, as well as Starlink capabilities that no longer work in Ukraine.
—Jason Ma, Fortune, 29 Mar. 2026
If anything, there’s little about Vokietaitis’ game that involves decoys.
—Kirk Bohls, Houston Chronicle, 20 Mar. 2026
Igloo White was often misled by Vietnamese decoys.
—Jon R. Lindsay, The Conversation, 11 Mar. 2026
Verb
Osit looks for answers in multiple places, interviewing law enforcement officials and district attorneys, academics, and former Perverted Justice decoys from the show.
—Jason Newman, Rolling Stone, 20 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for decoys
Noun
-
Shult rage-baits Republicans daily.—
Jay Stahl,
USA Today,
25 Apr. 2026
-
Keep baits out of reach of kids and pets.—
Arricca Elin SanSone,
Southern Living,
20 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Newly opened Fowlescombe Farm, a 450-acre estate in south Devon, England, where Tamworth piglets and Manx Loaghtan sheep roam free and wildflowers are encouraged to be picked, lures guests with the promise of slow living.—
Jen Murphy,
Condé Nast Traveler,
22 Apr. 2026
-
At the same time, Katie gets abducted by a mysterious neighbor (Hayat Kamille), who lures her in with her favorite chocolates.—
Gregory Nussen,
Deadline,
16 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Their taste runs so deeply Hollywood, their references so opulent and cinematic, that even a drink tray—in its cream lacquer and chrome border—tempts a standing ovation.—
Julia Harrison,
Architectural Digest,
22 Apr. 2026
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If a purchase tempts you, say your budget aloud, then choose the upgrade that truly supports daily life.—
Tarot.com,
Hartford Courant,
16 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Intrigued, the Duke secretly seduces Gilda, breaks her heart and destroys Rigoletto’s life.—
Pam Kragen,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
22 Mar. 2026
-
The victim of his sacrifice is Gretchen, a virgin whom Faust seduces and abandons in his devilish reverie, and who kills their illegitimate child.—
Merve Emre,
New Yorker,
1 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Decoys.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/decoys. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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