as in fairy
an imaginary being usually having a small human form and magical powers during the World Wars, fighter pilots adopted the fanciful notion that gremlins were responsible for mechanical failures on their planes

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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 gremlin Some gremlins can be unraveled with linear problem-solving, a prowess possessed by AI. Chip Bell, Forbes, 15 Jan. 2025 Ghosts in the Machine Ellen Walker October 23, 2024 Forty years ago, Hollywood made gremlins loveable—portraying them as adorable, furry creatures. The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 23 Dec. 2024 The gremlins come out; the edifices crumble; the saucy doubts and fears triumph. James Parker, The Atlantic, 10 Dec. 2024 The holiday tale doubles as a good entry into horror for youngsters, with a small town beset by freaky gremlins because teenagers can't follow simple instructions. Brian Truitt, USA TODAY, 27 Nov. 2024 See All Example Sentences for gremlin
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gremlin
Noun
  • Sure, that Christmas elf mistook them as Christopher’s two dads back in Season 2, but no main characters have ever genuinely vocalized the possibility of a Buck-Eddie pairing.
    Andy Swift, TVLine, 21 Mar. 2025
  • Michelle Obama couldn’t make it, but part-time-painter George W. Bush had space in his diary (like all mischievous elves straight after Christmas), and the poor woman behind BFG Barron missed the whole event.
    Raven Smith, Vogue, 22 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • Kids consider costumes ranging from spooky goblins to little angels, and parents begin considering how to ration the candy collected after a long night of trick-or-treating.
    Sen. Dan Hall, Twin Cities, 8 Feb. 2025
  • This is your starting point, and where the brother from the story encountered the water goblin.
    Anders Fogh Rasmussen, Newsweek, 5 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • Emperor tamarins are dwarf monkeys with whiskers that resemble a white moustache.
    Robert Higgs, cleveland, 1 Feb. 2023
  • The dwarf variety grows to be about 5 to 7 feet, ideal for a small garden or accent in a room with limited space.
    Bryce Jones, Better Homes & Gardens, 24 Jan. 2023

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Cite this Entry

“Gremlin.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gremlin. Accessed 23 Apr. 2025.

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