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clickbait article

clickbait article

4.1
An online article that uses exciting or false headlines to make people click
  • noun
  • /ˈklɪkˌbeɪt ˈɑrtɪkl/
  • Literature
translation icon : artículo clickbait
  • Many people are becoming increasingly frustrated with the misinformation spread by clickbait articles that promise unbelievable stories.

Examples

  • That website is filled with clickbait articles that rarely deliver on their promises.

  • I read a clickbait article yesterday.

  • She refuses to share clickbait articles because they often mislead readers.

  • The rise of clickbait articles has made it harder to find credible news online.

  • Have you seen that new clickbait article on social media?

  • I avoid websites that often feature clickbait articles because they usually contain misleading headlines.

  • The viral post was just another clickbait article designed to grab attention with exaggerated claims.

Synonyms

sensationalism
vsclickbait article
  • Literature
12 7.0

Publishing shocking or exaggerated stories to get attention

applies specifically to online posts made to get clicks not just general shocking tactics
clickbait
vsclickbait article
  • Literature
3 4.4

An online headline or article that makes people click by promising more than it gives

is a single online post created to attract clicks with such headlines
sensational story
vsclickbait article
  • Literature
2 4.3

A news article that shocks or excites people by making events seem bigger than they are

focuses on online attention and encouraging clicks rather than only shocking events

How Sensational

clickbait article
  • Literature
4.1
headline
  • Literature
542 1.1
feature
  • Literature
155 3.1
article
  • Literature
1.0

Surface Forms

Morphology

clickbait + article

The phrase is compositional: 'clickbait' names content designed to provoke clicks and 'article' is a type of written piece, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents can directly infer 'an article designed to attract clicks' without special cultural knowledge. This modifier + noun pattern is productive and mirrors analogous constructions in other languages, making the meaning immediately predictable.

Etymology

The word clickbait article comes from the words click and bait: imagine a fisherman using bright bait to lure fish while online writers use tempting headlines to lure people to 'click' a link. So a clickbait article is an article that uses that bait to get attention, often by promising more than it delivers.