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
But there are obstacles ahead for the flagship VW brand, which began as a Nazi economic gambit in the 1930s and later morphed into an engine for Germany’s rise after World War II.
—
Lenora Chu, The Christian Science Monitor, 27 Jan. 2025
Mind you, the impressive gambit wasn't for stunning series footage.
—Bryan Alexander, USA TODAY, 24 Jan. 2025
Adapted from a Russell Banks’s 1989 novel, Schrader mostly limits the action to Wade’s perspective to pull off a key gambit, in which Wade’s uneven sanity seamlessly transitions into outright dangerous territory before the audience’s eyes.
—Vikram Murthi, Vulture, 21 Jan. 2025
And trade czar Robert Lighthizer, who’s hinted at Trump 2.0 considering its own currency devaluation gambit.
—William Pesek, Forbes, 17 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for gambit 
Lenora Chu, The Christian Science Monitor, 27 Jan. 2025
Mind you, the impressive gambit wasn't for stunning series footage.
—Bryan Alexander, USA TODAY, 24 Jan. 2025
Adapted from a Russell Banks’s 1989 novel, Schrader mostly limits the action to Wade’s perspective to pull off a key gambit, in which Wade’s uneven sanity seamlessly transitions into outright dangerous territory before the audience’s eyes.
—Vikram Murthi, Vulture, 21 Jan. 2025
And trade czar Robert Lighthizer, who’s hinted at Trump 2.0 considering its own currency devaluation gambit.
—William Pesek, Forbes, 17 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for gambit
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gambit
Noun
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Matty, for her part, isn’t worried about getting in any real trouble if her ruse is uncovered.—
Noel Murray,
Vulture,
30 Jan. 2025
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But some of the writers fell for the alleged ruse, which eventually involved the literary agent from a company called PageTurner Press & Media asking for advance payments for services such as book insurance, hiring editors to help update the book or hiring publicists to promote it.—
Alex Riggins,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
16 Jan. 2025
Noun
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When Tony White left after the regular season for Florida State, Nebraska lost a defensive tactician and a coordinator who brought an effective scheme to the Blackshirts.—
Mitch Sherman,
The Athletic,
17 Feb. 2025
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What’s needed now are more flexible funding schemes and opportunities that will allow Latvian productions to be competitive on the global market.—
Marta Balaga,
Variety,
17 Feb. 2025
Noun
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If the fashion on the sidelines wasn't enough to hype up attendees, a lively dance performance to kick off the runway show did the trick.—
Anika Reed,
USA TODAY,
11 Feb. 2025
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If not, now's the time to add it to your arsenal of emergency hair tricks.—
Petra Guglielmetti,
Glamour,
11 Feb. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near gambit
Cite this Entry
“Gambit.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gambit. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.
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