decoy

About 0.47 uses per million words.

Meaning

1. noun A person or object meant to lure somebody into danger.
2. noun A real or fake animal used by hunters to lure game.
3. noun Deceptive military device used to draw enemy attention or fire away from a more important target.
4. noun An assembly of hooped or netted corridors into which wild ducks may be enticed (originally by tame ducks) and trapped.
5. verb To lead into danger by artifice; to lure into a net or snare; to entrap.

   to decoy troops into an ambush; to decoy ducks into a net

6. verb To act as, or use, a decoy.

   As they were being decoyed, the rescue team carried the hostage and quietly slipped away.

Similar words

lure bait diversion lie stunt trick deception sham distraction snare

Often followed by

to the and for in them him ducks is

Word family

decoyed decoying decoys