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Synonyms for decoy


Grammar : Noun, verb
Spell : noun dee-koi, dih-koi; verb dih-koi
Phonetic Transcription : noun ˈdi kɔɪ, dɪˈkɔɪ; verb dɪˈkɔɪ

Top 10 synonyms for decoy Other synonyms for the word decoy

Définition of decoy

Origin :
  • 1610s, perhaps from Dutch kooi "cage," used of a pond surrounded by nets, into which wildfowl were lured for capture, from West Germanic *kaiwa, from Latin cavea "cage." The first element is possibly the Dutch definite article de, mistaken in English as part of the word. But decoy, of unknown origin, was the name of a card game popular c.1550-1650, and this may have influenced the form of the word.
  • noun bait, trap
  • verb bait, entrap
Example sentences :
  • About sundown he took in his decoy Hen, as Owls were abundant, and went back to his camp.
  • Extract from : « Johnny Bear » by E. T. Seton
  • I want you, besides, to act as a decoy in a case I have already told you of.
  • Extract from : « Life And Adventures Of Martin Chuzzlewit » by Charles Dickens
  • And in this trap of Iblis was decoy enough for a poor mouse like me.
  • Extract from : « The Book of Khalid » by Ameen Rihani
  • The comparison of the mind to a block of wax, or to a decoy of birds, is found wanting.
  • Extract from : « Theaetetus » by Plato
  • One of the Indians then stationed himself as a decoy, and howled like a wolf.
  • Extract from : « King Philip » by John S. C. (John Stevens Cabot) Abbott
  • I am to decoy the young thing away by making her believe as I'm her husband, eh?
  • Extract from : « A Son of Hagar » by Sir Hall Caine
  • “That is the sort of decoy they use in our country,” Jethro said.
  • Extract from : « The Cat of Bubastes » by G. A. Henty
  • I durst not follow them; for it might be a feint to decoy me from my post.
  • Extract from : « Sir Ludar » by Talbot Baines Reed
  • No, he has put forward as the decoy my colleague, Croffut,—perhaps you know him?
  • Extract from : « The Plum Tree » by David Graham Phillips
  • These are placed on the ground, by a hedge, and near them a decoy goldfinch in a cage.
  • Extract from : « Round About a Great Estate » by Richard Jefferies

Antonyms for decoy

Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019