clickbait article
- noun
- /ˈklɪkˌbeɪt ˈɑrtɪkl/
- Literature
- Many people are becoming increasingly frustrated with the misinformation spread by clickbait articles that promise unbelievable stories.
Examples
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That website is filled with clickbait articles that rarely deliver on their promises.
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I read a clickbait article yesterday.
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She refuses to share clickbait articles because they often mislead readers.
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The rise of clickbait articles has made it harder to find credible news online.
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Have you seen that new clickbait article on social media?
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I avoid websites that often feature clickbait articles because they usually contain misleading headlines.
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The viral post was just another clickbait article designed to grab attention with exaggerated claims.
Synonyms
Publishing shocking or exaggerated stories to get attention
An online headline or article that makes people click by promising more than it gives
A news article that shocks or excites people by making events seem bigger than they are
How Sensational
Surface Forms
Morphology
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.