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Definitions

lead on

VERB
allure
Synonyms
STRONGEST
beguile bewitch captivate enchant
STRONG
attract bait cajole charm coax decoy draw entrap fascinate hook inveigle lure magnetize persuade pull seduce tempt wile
WEAK
come on suck in sweep off feet turn on win over
Antonyms
STRONGEST
disenchant disgust repel repulse
STRONG
discourage dissuade push release turn off
WEAK
deter prevent threaten warn
VERB
bait
Synonyms
STRONGEST
entice seduce
STRONG
allure attract bedevil beguile draw fascinate tempt
Antonyms
STRONGEST
turn off
STRONG
discourage repel repulse
VERB
coquet
Synonyms
STRONG
dally flirt fool operate philander titillate toy trifle vamp wanton
WEAK
gold-dig make eyes at string along wink at
Antonyms
WEAK
be shy
VERB
dally/dally with
Synonyms
WEAK
be insincere with carry on cosset fool around frivol frolic gambol have a fling play around rollick romp tamper wanton
VERB
deceive
Synonyms
STRONGEST
be dishonest betray cheat circumvent defraud delude disappoint dupe entrap falsify fool hoodwink mislead swindle trick victimize
STRONG
bamboozle beat beguile bilk buffalo burn clip con cozen ensnare fake fleece gouge gull hoax hook humbug outwit rob scam screw sell skin
WEAK
beat out of cross up double-cross impose upon play joke on pull fast one put on put up a smokescreen suck in take advantage of take for take for ride take in take to cleaners
Antonyms
STRONGEST
aid assist help protect support
STRONG
be honest give let go offer release
VERB
decoy
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 up garden path rope in suck in
Antonyms
STRONG
be honest discourage disenchant disgust dissuade let go release repel repulse turn off
VERB
draw out
Synonyms
STRONGEST
drag out elongate protract
WEAK
attract continue drag extend lengthen make longer prolongate pull spin spin out stretch string out tug
Antonyms
STRONGEST
shorten
WEAK
clip
VERB
entangle
Synonyms
STRONGEST
complicate confuse embarrass embroil enmesh ensnare entrap implicate intertwine interweave perplex snare snarl tangle unsettle
STRONG
bewilder burden catch clog compromise corner dishevel embrangle enchain fetter hamper hook impede jumble knot mat muddle puzzle ravel snag swindle trammel trap twist
WEAK
come on duke in intertangle rope in set up
Antonyms
STRONGEST
clarify clear up disentangle enlighten exclude explain free let go liberate order release uncomplicate untangle
STRONG
aid allow assist explicate help organize support
WEAK
untwist
VERB
entice
Synonyms
STRONGEST
attract beguile cajole coax seduce tempt
STRONG
bait decoy draw entrap inveigle lure rizz up wheedle
WEAK
bat eyes at prevail on turn on
Antonyms
STRONGEST
repel repulse turn off
STRONG
disenchant disgust
WEAK
dissuade turn away
VERB
entrap
Synonyms
STRONGEST
enmesh ensnare entangle entice implicate seduce
STRONG
allure bag beguile catch decoy embroil hook inveigle lure net snare tempt trap trick
WEAK
benet box in lay for reel in rope in set up suck in
Antonyms
STRONGEST
exclude
STRONG
discourage disenchant disgust dissuade free let go lose release repulse
WEAK
clear disentangle liberate
VERB
flirt
Synonyms
STRONGEST
tease
STRONG
banter coquet dally disport eyeball fool gam ogle philander pitch proposition
WEAK
bat eyes at come on to hit on linger with make a move make a pass pick up wink at
Antonyms
WEAK
be faithful
VERB
fool
Synonyms
STRONGEST
cheat deceive delude dupe hoodwink pretend
STRONG
bamboozle bluff chicane con diddle flimflam fox gull hoax jive juke kid outfox scam snow spoof trifle
WEAK
fake out make believe play a trick on play-act put on put one over on suck in take in
Antonyms
STRONGEST
be honest
VERB
intrigue
Synonyms
STRONGEST
attract captivate charm delight enchant entertain excite fascinate pique please rivet tickle titillate
STRONG
appeal bait con draw grab hook interest mousetrap pull tout
Antonyms
STRONGEST
bore depress disenchant disgust displease offend refuse repel repulse tire turn off
STRONG
let go push release
WEAK
forget neglect
VERB
inveigle
Synonyms
STRONG
allure bait bamboozle beguile blandish cajole charm coax con decoy ensnare entrap hook influence jolly lure maneuver massage oil persuade seduce snow soft-soap stroke tempt urge wheedle
WEAK
egg on get around lay it on thick play up to rope in soften up string along sweet-talk work over
Antonyms
STRONG
be honest disenchant dissuade
VERB
kid around
Synonyms
WEAK
annoy badger bait banter bother chaff disturb dog fool around give a hard time goad harass josh mock needle nudge pester pick on rag razz rib ride ridicule roast taunt
VERB
lure
Synonyms
STRONG
allure bag bait beckon beguile bewitch cajole captivate capture catch charm decoy draw enchant ensnare entice fascinate grab haul hook inveigle invite pull rope steer tempt
WEAK
come on to hit on suck in sweep off one's feet turn on
Antonyms
STRONG
deter discourage disenchant disgust dissuade free let go liberate lose offend push reject release repel repulse turn off
WEAK
antagonize
VERB
mislead
Synonyms
STRONGEST
betray cheat deceive defraud delude dupe entice fool fudge hoodwink lie misguide misinform misrepresent tempt
STRONG
bait beguile bilk bluff bunk cozen enmesh ensnare entangle gull hoax hose inveigle juggle lure misdirect outwit overreach pervert rook scam seduce shaft snow trick victimize
WEAK
double-cross illude lead astray pull wool over eyes put on rip off rope in take in
Antonyms
STRONGEST
be honest support
WEAK
advise counsel guard lead protect
VERB
seduce
Synonyms
STRONGEST
beguile betray deceive delude entice persuade
STRONG
bait bribe coax decoy draw entrap hook induce inveigle invite lure mislead pull steer wheedle
WEAK
lead astray mousetrap rope in string along sucker
Antonyms
STRONGEST
dissuade
STRONG
disenchant disgust push reject release repel repulse turn off
VERB
string along
Synonyms
WEAK
bluff coquet dally deceive dupe flirt fool hoax put one over on take for a ride toy trifle wanton
Antonyms
WEAK
let go release
VERB
tantalize
Synonyms
STRONGEST
annoy baffle entice fascinate frustrate titillate torment
STRONG
badger bait bedevil beleaguer charm gnaw harass harry pester plague taunt thwart torture worry
WEAK
keep hanging make mouth water
Antonyms
STRONGEST
aid assist disenchant encourage help make happy please repel repulse support turn off
VERB
tease
Synonyms
STRONGEST
annoy badger bother harass mock needle nudge pester pick on ridicule tantalize taunt torment
STRONG
bait banter bedevil beleaguer chaff devil disturb dog gibe gnaw goad harry hector importune jive josh plague rag rally razz rib ride roast slam snap sound spoof vex worry
WEAK
be at give a hard time put down send up swipe at
Antonyms
STRONGEST
aid delight flatter help make happy please praise
STRONG
assist free quiet reassure soothe
VERB
tempt
Synonyms
STRONGEST
appeal to attract captivate charm dare fascinate induce intrigue invite motivate persuade seduce stimulate tantalize woo
STRONG
allure bait coax court decoy draw entrap honey up hook incite influence instigate inveigle move oil promote provoke risk rouse solicit test train try wheedle whet
WEAK
butter up draw out make mouth water mousetrap play up to turn one's head
Antonyms
STRONGEST
bore depress discourage disenchant dissuade hinder offend prevent repel repulse
STRONG
delight deter dishearten dull halt please reject release stop turn off
VERB
toy
Synonyms
STRONGEST
fiddle flirt fool tease
STRONG
coquet cosset dally dandle jest pet play sport trifle wanton
WEAK
amuse oneself fool around mess around play around play games string along
VERB
trifle
Synonyms
STRONG
coquet dabble dally dawdle dilly-dally doodle fidget flirt fool fritter idle loiter lollygag lounge misuse monkey palter philander play potter putter squander toy twiddle wanton waste
WEAK
amuse oneself be insincere fool around fool with fribble futz around horse around indulge in mess with monkey with play games with play with string along use up waste time wink at
Antonyms
STRONG
hasten hoard hurry push rush save work
VERB
vamp
Synonyms
STRONG
beguile entice flirt lure tempt

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.

When Boston went to work on a new album, “Life, Love & Hope,” featuring vocals from Delp and others, DeCarlo sang lead on the title track and contributed to others.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 25, 2026

But Bryan Simpson, Unite's national lead on hospitality, condemned the move.

From BBC • Mar. 21, 2026

Other days, they would have a good lead on a new material only to find out it couldn’t be manufactured to scale.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 20, 2026

To get those results, Barron’s checked the prediction-market odds to see which nominee was in the lead on March 5, the day voting for the awards closed.

From Barron's • Mar. 16, 2026

“Record the song like you’d normally do and everything will be fine, all right? Just follow my lead on the other stuff.”

From "On the Come Up" by Angie Thomas

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