Meaning & use
baiting
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“baiting” is a form of “bait”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meanings
verbtransitive
Putting food or another lure on a hook or in a trap to attract fish or animals.
Grammar: -ing form of bait; takes an object: baiting the hook.
Patterns
- baiting something with something
He spent the morning baiting hooks with worms.
Baiting the trap with cheese worked on the first night.
She was baiting the line when the first fish struck.
verbtransitivedisapproving
Deliberately making someone angry or upset by teasing or provoking them.
Grammar: -ing form of bait; needs a person or group as object: baiting his sister.
Patterns
- baiting someone
Stop baiting your brother, or he will lose his temper.
The commentator was accused of baiting protesters.
They kept baiting the new player with insults.
noununcountable
The activity of provoking or harassing someone, or of tormenting an animal for sport.
Grammar: Often a compound: bear-baiting, fat-baiting.
Patterns
- the baiting of someone
Bear-baiting was once a popular spectacle but is now illegal.
The constant baiting of the referee got him sent off.
Online baiting makes some discussions toxic.
Word forms
| base form | bait |
|---|---|
| third person singular | baits |
| past tense | baited |
Common combinations
- baiting a hook
- Baiting a hook takes patience and steady fingers.
- baiting a trap
- Baiting a trap with peanut butter attracted the mouse.
- baiting the crowd
- The speaker was baiting the crowd with provocative claims.
- online baiting
- Online baiting often leads to long, angry arguments.
- bear-baiting
- Bear-baiting has been banned for centuries.
Synonyms and how they differ
- provoking
- Provoking is broader and can mean causing any reaction, while baiting suggests deliberate, repeated teasing.
- teasing
- Teasing may be affectionate or playful, but baiting is meant to cause anger.
- taunting
- Taunting is more openly insulting, whereas baiting can be sly and indirect.
- luring
- Luring is neutral and describes attracting something, whereas baiting specifically uses a lure and often implies a trap.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: baiting or bating? baiting or baking?
baiting vs bating
Bating comes from bate, meaning to lessen, as in with bated breath; baiting involves lures or provocation.
baiting vs baking
Baking is cooking in an oven; the words look similar but are unrelated.
Practice
The referee warned the player for ____ the opposing fans with rude gestures.
Choose one answer.
Baiting means deliberately provoking. Bating means reducing, baking is cooking and basting means spooning juices over food.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “baiting”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.