clickbait

noun

click·bait ˈklik-ˌbāt

: something (such as a headline) designed to make readers want to click on a hyperlink especially when the link leads to content of dubious value or interest

It is difficult to remember a time when you could scroll through the social media outlet of your choice and not be bombarded with: You'll never believe what happened when … This is the cutest thing ever … This the biggest mistake you can make … Take this quiz to see which character you are on … They are all classic clickbait models.—

Emily Shire

Examples of clickbait in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Lauren Goode: Were people just copying and pasting it as like clickbait and not attributing it? —

Lauren Goode, WIRED, 21 Nov. 2024 However, this irresistible clickbait was backed up by much more than a headline, and there are some very tangible takeaways. —

Jason Andersen, Forbes, 1 Oct. 2024 Bronny’s struggles in summer league coupled with the clickbait nature of his internet existence created the perfect storm for Brown to go viral here. —

Zach Harper, The Athletic, 18 July 2024 Advertisement Gerda’s career is an exemplar of what happens when news organizations invest in local journalism, let reporters dig instead of writing clickbait and stand by them in the face of critics real and imagined. —

Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 2 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for clickbait