decoy means A person or object meant to lure somebody into danger. It carries an Arena rating of 1628, earned across 3 head-to-head judged battles.
Among words judged in Lexicurio's Arena, decoy ranks #2,309 of 14,431 for Most Betrayed by Its Sound, #2,340 of 14,361 for Most Ingenious Words, #2,357 of 14,297 for Best Fossil-Poetry Words, #2,574 of 14,448 for Funniest Words.
decoy is pronounced /ˈdiːkɔɪ/.
Why “decoy” is a great word
A person, object, or device used to lure, entice, or draw attention away from a more important target, often into a trap or danger. From the Dutch *de kooi*, literally 'the cage,' specifically from the practice of using a duck cage (*eendekooi*) to trap wildfowl; first attested in English in the 1670s. Unlike a 'lure,' which suggests a simple attraction, or a 'red herring,' a misleading clue, a decoy is a tangible artifice designed to draw one toward a specific, often hazardous, point of action. It is the painted wooden duck bobbing on still water, the hollow building constructed to draw artillery fire, or the friendly stranger whose sole purpose is to lead you into an ambush—a performance of authenticity where every convincing detail is a step closer to the snare, a vessel of false safety radiating just enough warmth to draw the cold traveler near.
Etymology
From Dutch de + kooi, literally "the cage". Possibly related to verb coy (which itself may have been influenced by decoy).
noun
- A person or object meant to lure somebody into danger.
- A real or fake animal used by hunters to lure game.
- Deceptive military device used to draw enemy attention or fire away from a more important target.e.g.“2002, Robotech: Battlecry – Guide and Walkthrough
Just every 5 seconds or so shoot out a decoy near the Cats Eye and the enemies will aim for that instead of the Cats Eye.”
- An assembly of hooped or netted corridors into which wild ducks may be enticed (originally by tame ducks) and trapped.
verb
- To lead into danger by artifice; to lure into a net or snare; to entrap.e.g.“to decoy troops into an ambush; to decoy ducks into a net”
- To act as, or use, a decoy.e.g.“As they were being decoyed, the rescue team carried the hostage and quietly slipped away.”
Words closest in meaning
By meaning, not spelling — each word's AI semantic fingerprint, nearest first.
- entice 83% match — To lure; to attract by arousing desire or hope. vs decoy →
- deception 81% match — An instance of actions and/or schemes fabricated to mislead someone into believing a lie or inaccuracy. vs decoy →
- enticement 81% match — The act or practice of enticing, of alluring or tempting. vs decoy →
- seduce 81% match — To beguile or lure (someone) away from duty, accepted principles, or proper conduct; to lead astray. vs decoy →
- feint 81% match — A movement made to confuse an opponent; a dummy. vs decoy →
- beguiler 81% match — A person who beguiles. vs decoy →
- hoodwink 81% match — To cover the eyes with, or as if with, a hood; to blindfold. vs decoy →
- canard 81% match — A false or misleading report or story, especially if deliberately so. vs decoy →