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Definitions

decoy

[dee-koi, dih-koi, dih-koi] / ˈdi kɔɪ, dɪˈkɔɪ, dɪˈkɔɪ /
NOUN
bait, trap
Synonyms
STRONG
allurement attraction beard blind booster camouflage catch chicane chicanery come-on deception enticement facade fake front imitation inducement lure nark plant pretense shill snare stoolie temptation trick trickery
WEAK
drawing card ensnarement inveiglement seducement sitting duck stool pigeon
Antonyms
STRONG
discouragement frankness honesty openness original reality repulsion truth truthfulness
VERB
bait, entrap
Synonyms
STRONG
allure con deceive delude ensnare entice fascinate inveigle lure mislead mousetrap seduce shill steer tempt toll tout trap wile
WEAK
egg on ensorcell lead on lead up garden path rope in suck in
Antonyms
STRONG
be honest discourage disenchant disgust dissuade let go release repel repulse turn off

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The lawsuit was the result of an undercover investigation into Meta’s platforms that created decoy profiles posing as children aged 14 years and younger.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 24, 2026

He hit superb lines, either hitting the ball up bravely into the heart of Wales defence or acting as a decoy, and worked instinctively with Northampton team-mate Fraser Dingwall inside him at 12.

From BBC • Feb. 8, 2026

CS2 acts as a decoy, drawing alpha-synuclein away from ClpP and preventing it from harming the cell's energy systems.

From Science Daily • Jan. 20, 2026

Several times he was used as a decoy, opening the door for receiver Harrison Carter to show his stuff.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 15, 2025

Dad continued talking in this manner throughout dinner, pounding home his theme to Erik—that Erik had contributed big-time to the victory, that Erik had actually made victory possible by being the decoy.

From "Tangerine" by Edward Bloor

From Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.