clickbait article
1
4.1
- 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
12
7.0
Publishing shocking or exaggerated stories to get attention
2
4.3
A news article that shocks or excites people by making events seem bigger than they are
2
4.4
An online headline or article that makes people click by promising more than it gives
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.