1
as in ruse
a clever often underhanded means to achieve an end
that free dinner is just a sales gimmick to get you to listen to their sales pitch
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in gadget
an interesting and often novel device with a practical use
a car equipped with a parking spot locator and other neat gimmicks
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in hitch
a danger or difficulty that is hidden or not easily recognized
the deal sounds too good to be true, so make sure there aren't any gimmicks
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of gimmick
It is more aggressively styled but still retains the complex combination and transformation gimmicks.
—
Ollie Barder, Forbes, 20 Jan. 2025
Coaster war brewing between Six Flags Magic Mountain and relatively unknown European rival
The tilt track revival feels like a throwback to the 1990s coaster wars when parks were constantly trying to one-up each other with the latest coaster gimmick.
—Brady MacDonald, Orange County Register, 20 Jan. 2025
Successful attention capitalists don’t hold our attention with compelling material but, instead, snatch it over and over with slot-machine gimmicks.
—Daniel Immerwahr, The New Yorker, 20 Jan. 2025
Rather than address the real force multiplier behind this latest fire, and avoid a climate apocalypse, Republicans would rather make a quick buck off a recall gimmick.
—David Faris, Newsweek, 18 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for gimmick 
Ollie Barder, Forbes, 20 Jan. 2025
Coaster war brewing between Six Flags Magic Mountain and relatively unknown European rival
The tilt track revival feels like a throwback to the 1990s coaster wars when parks were constantly trying to one-up each other with the latest coaster gimmick.
—Brady MacDonald, Orange County Register, 20 Jan. 2025
Successful attention capitalists don’t hold our attention with compelling material but, instead, snatch it over and over with slot-machine gimmicks.
—Daniel Immerwahr, The New Yorker, 20 Jan. 2025
Rather than address the real force multiplier behind this latest fire, and avoid a climate apocalypse, Republicans would rather make a quick buck off a recall gimmick.
—David Faris, Newsweek, 18 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for gimmick
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gimmick
Noun
-
Matty, for her part, isn’t worried about getting in any real trouble if her ruse is uncovered.—
Noel Murray,
Vulture,
30 Jan. 2025
-
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
-
American shoppers have become accustomed to nearly seamless delivery of online orders of affordable clothing and gadgets from China.—
Laura Gottesdiener and Stephen Eisenhammer,
USA TODAY,
15 Feb. 2025
-
Kat Merck Power Up Anywhere With the Best Travel Adapters When going abroad, the right plugs are essential to keeping your gadgets charged.—
Simon Hill,
WIRED,
13 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
Despite 13 buildings being burned down, one person killed, 11 wounded, 400 arrested and $1 million worth of damage, the game went off as scheduled without a hitch.—
Barry M. Bloom,
Sportico.com,
10 Feb. 2025
-
So far, there haven’t been reports of major technical failings on Tubi’s end, indicating the event went on largely without a hitch.—
Katie Campione,
Deadline,
10 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
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
-
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
Noun
-
Should bird flu worsen, however, many of the same tools could become the best available options to limit its toll.—
Nicholas Florko,
The Atlantic,
11 Feb. 2025
-
There’s a certain subset of CFOs that have the right tools, processes, systems.—
Megan Poinski,
Forbes,
11 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
Pope Francis noted that while a nation has the right to defend itself and keep communities safe from people who have committed violent or serious crimes, deportations put some migrants at risk.—
Ray Lewis,
Baltimore Sun,
11 Feb. 2025
-
Thus, there is always a lurking risk that your AI use will be detected.—
Andrew Brodsky,
TIME,
11 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
Each month Kendra hosts a real-life get-together in her apartment, then passes her expert game plan along to you: the menu, the grocery and prep lists, and all her tips and tricks.—
Kendra Vaculin,
Bon Appétit,
11 Feb. 2025
-
If not, now's the time to add it to your arsenal of emergency hair tricks.—
Petra Guglielmetti,
Glamour,
11 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
Here are three common leadership pitfalls that Musk's rise calls to mind and which have felled countless leaders and mass movements through history.—
Justin Gest,
Newsweek,
11 Feb. 2025
-
The authors also point out common pitfalls on the way to purpose and offer suggestions for how to create and sustain initiatives that deeply align with an organization’s core values.—
Christopher P. Blocker,
Joseph P. Cannon,
Jonathan Z. Zhang,
Harvard Business Review,
6 Feb. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near gimmick
Cite this Entry
“Gimmick.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gimmick. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share