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-baiting

American  
  1. a combining form used to describe hate speech and other rhetoric or depictions that target a minoritized group in order to denigrate that group or for the purpose of pitting different identity groups against one another.

    gender-baiting;

    queerbaiting;

    race-baiting.


Etymology

Origin of -baiting

First recorded in 1920–25; from bait ( def. ) (in the sense “to worry, torment”) + -ing 1 ( def. ); modeled after Jew-baiting ( def. )

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Baiting badgers is illegal because badgers are a protected species while foxes have no legal protection.

From BBC • Oct. 4, 2022

Baiting him into a pair of mistakes would likely prove decisive in a winner-take-all playoff scenario.

From The Guardian • Jan. 14, 2019

Baiting people is what bullies do; they practice it until they turn it into an art form.

From Washington Post • Oct. 22, 2018

Baiting Europe’s second-largest oil producer, a company that had $376 billion in revenue last year, has become a picaresque form of entertainment in some Gulf precincts.

From BusinessWeek • Jun. 27, 2013

As the young captain was walking fast towards the dwelling of Deacon Pratt, Watson came on deck again, and hailed Baiting Joe, who was fishing at no great distance from the wharf.

From The Sea Lions The Lost Sealers by Cooper, James Fenimore

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