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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Recent Examples of gambit
The roadblocks to Trump’s agenda would grow even more difficult if the returning president were to resort to an unprecedented, untested theory of appointing Gaetz without Senate approval — a gambit that would plunge the DOJ ...
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Robert J. Delahunty, National Review, 20 Nov. 2024
In fact, many applicants hoping to attend their dream schools have already submitted materials for early decision, a gambit that may increase one's chances of getting in.
—Jeffrey Marcus, Forbes, 26 Oct. 2024
The season ends with the mercenary getting away scot-free after successfully pulling off a gambit that forces the MI5 to release him via blackmail.
—Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 9 Oct. 2024
That gambit would work in limited ways for a little while, but at some point, Trump would inevitably move in a completely different direction.
—Peter D. Feaver, Foreign Affairs, 6 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for gambit 
Robert J. Delahunty, National Review, 20 Nov. 2024
In fact, many applicants hoping to attend their dream schools have already submitted materials for early decision, a gambit that may increase one's chances of getting in.
—Jeffrey Marcus, Forbes, 26 Oct. 2024
The season ends with the mercenary getting away scot-free after successfully pulling off a gambit that forces the MI5 to release him via blackmail.
—Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 9 Oct. 2024
That gambit would work in limited ways for a little while, but at some point, Trump would inevitably move in a completely different direction.
—Peter D. Feaver, Foreign Affairs, 6 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for gambit
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gambit
Noun
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Sunday outsmarted Adam and Hannah with a ruse at Tribal Council.Dalton Ross, EW.com, 12 Dec. 2024
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That was a ruse for Litton, who does not have a grandson, to get onto campus, Honea said.Phil Helsel, NBC News, 6 Dec. 2024
Noun
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Pacifica came out on its first possession and used a no-huddle, up-tempo scheme to drive 72 yards for a 7-0 lead on Royster’s seven-yard touchdown run.Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 14 Dec. 2024
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Ryan Harris, 36, of New Orleans, was among eight people and two law firms that have been charged in what federal prosecutors say was a yearslong scheme of crashing vehicles into tractor-trailers, fleeing while passengers in those vehicles pretended to be the drivers and lying about what happened.Democrat-Gazette staff from wire reports, arkansasonline.com, 14 Dec. 2024
Noun
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There’s also Image Wand which does similar pic-making tricks in the Notes app and Genmoji, the custom emoji characters which are also based on prompts from you.David Phelan, Forbes, 7 Dec. 2024
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Our fee-avoidance is more than a few money-saving tricks.Christopher Elliott, USA TODAY, 6 Dec. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near gambit
Cite this Entry
“Gambit.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gambit. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.
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