as in ruse
a clever often underhanded means to achieve an end
I couldn't tell whether her earlier poor-mouthing had been sincere or just a gambit to get me to pick up the dinner check
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of gambit
When the final tally comes in, the company’s CFO and Board of Directors will want proof that the gambit was worth it.
—
Brian Steinberg, Variety, 10 Feb. 2025
The Supreme Court choked on the Sacklers’ previous gambit.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 2 Feb. 2025
If that turns out to be the case, legal experts and government officials say, the administration will have defied a federal judge’s order in a brazen gambit to continue dismantling USAID.
—Anna Maria Barry-Jester, ProPublica, 1 Mar. 2025
The actor said that his deliberately irritating gambit drew major laughs, to Reeves chagrin and Roberts' delight.
—Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 25 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for gambit
Brian Steinberg, Variety, 10 Feb. 2025
The Supreme Court choked on the Sacklers’ previous gambit.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 2 Feb. 2025
If that turns out to be the case, legal experts and government officials say, the administration will have defied a federal judge’s order in a brazen gambit to continue dismantling USAID.
—Anna Maria Barry-Jester, ProPublica, 1 Mar. 2025
The actor said that his deliberately irritating gambit drew major laughs, to Reeves chagrin and Roberts' delight.
—Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 25 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for gambit
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gambit
Noun
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Shane Millan admitted to forcing several women to expose their chest with the ruse of checking for tattoos A U.S. Border Patrol agent has admitted to forcing several migrant women to expose their breasts while processing their paperwork during their entry into the country in 2023.—
Samira Asma-Sadeque,
People.com,
11 Mar. 2025
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The idea of doctors posing as podcasters to make men more suggestible is already a winner, but the language the doctors employ to complete the ruse ratchets up the comedy.—
Joe Berkowitz,
Vulture,
26 Jan. 2025
Noun
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The military declares martial law in the town as Daniels and his fellow scientists race to develop a cure, even as the nefarious McClintock schemes to bomb Cedar Creek to smithereens to contain the virus.—
Ars Technica,
Ars Technica,
14 Mar. 2025
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The White Van is a kinetic heist thriller following a troubled young woman who is lured into a criminal scheme that leaves her wanted for bank robbery and hunted by a corrupt cop who doesn’t want justice – but wants the money for himself.—
Anthony D'Alessandro,
Deadline,
13 Mar. 2025
Noun
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This chip also drives many of the phone's artificial intelligence features, and allows the Pixel 9a to take advantage of all the same AI camera tricks introduced on the Pixel 9 smartphones in 2024.—
Julian Chokkattu,
WIRED,
19 Mar. 2025
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Adopting a 12-step routine full of fancy tricks and hacks simply isn’t necessary.—
Angela Haupt,
TIME,
18 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Gambit.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gambit. Accessed 23 Mar. 2025.
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