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
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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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of gimmick
The Side Hustle Bottom Line The best side hustles in 2025 aren’t gimmicks or get-rich-quick schemes.
—
Sarah Hernholm, Forbes.com, 7 Sep. 2025
American yams, on the other hand, are merely mislabeled sweet potatoes thanks to a marketing gimmick from the 1930s.
—Joe Sevier, Bon Appetit Magazine, 6 Sep. 2025
The reason for the sudden change to a WWE Champion's gimmick has been revealed.
—Andrew Ravens, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Sep. 2025
Royel Otis doesn’t do flashy gimmicks, make bold, brash statements or lay down anything that could be confused with cheese or syrup.
—Lars Brandle, Billboard, 25 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for gimmick
Sarah Hernholm, Forbes.com, 7 Sep. 2025
American yams, on the other hand, are merely mislabeled sweet potatoes thanks to a marketing gimmick from the 1930s.
—Joe Sevier, Bon Appetit Magazine, 6 Sep. 2025
The reason for the sudden change to a WWE Champion's gimmick has been revealed.
—Andrew Ravens, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Sep. 2025
Royel Otis doesn’t do flashy gimmicks, make bold, brash statements or lay down anything that could be confused with cheese or syrup.
—Lars Brandle, Billboard, 25 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for gimmick
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gimmick
Noun
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Police said McGriff employed the ruse to access the couple's Queens residence and then set it ablaze.—
Joshua Rhett Miller,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Sep. 2025
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McGriff allegedly tried the ruse at a nearby house first but was turned away, Tisch said.—
Mark Morales,
CNN Money,
9 Sep. 2025
Noun
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The iconic items fit well in this book given how many Avengers don’t feel complete without a gadget or mystical item to carry into battle.—
Rob Wieland,
Forbes.com,
17 Sep. 2025
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The Arts District Market This store will sell a variety of travel necessities, including tech gadgets and small items.—
Phillip Molnar,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
16 Sep. 2025
Noun
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According to Champion, the wedding went off without a hitch — in no small part because her husband-to-be was very hands-on throughout the planning process.—
Shania Russell,
Entertainment Weekly,
14 Sep. 2025
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The two-door, three-person Can-Am Defender Limited and the four-door, six-person Defender Max Limited have 82-horsepower engines, power steering, tow hitches with a 2,500-pound towing capacity, winches, air conditioning and heating, a full hard roof and a three-position tilt-up glass windshield.—
Steve Waters,
Miami Herald,
12 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Roberts and Robinson, who federal prosecutors say conducted the scheme over the course of five years, between 2018 and 2023, allegedly stole $900,000 from the court system.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
13 Sep. 2025
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Just look at the offense — more weapons, better scheme, more support.—
Dianna Russini,
New York Times,
13 Sep. 2025
Noun
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In a 2004 study, the United States Institute of Peace said that hundreds of terrorist groups had migrated online, utilizing a tool meant for better communication for often nefarious purposes.—
Richard Frankel,
ABC News,
11 Sep. 2025
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Meeting these expectations has put real strain on automotive retail, challenging dealers to know when to rely on intelligent tools—and when to step in with human expertise.—
Malana VanTyler,
USA Today,
11 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Pilots allow organizations to learn, adapt, and de-risk before scaling up.—
Peter Bendor-Samuel,
Forbes.com,
12 Sep. 2025
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Getting confronted with gruesome, horrific imagery has, unfortunately, become an assumed risk when logging onto social media.—
Charles Trepany,
USA Today,
12 Sep. 2025
Noun
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So the real trick was creating a hue with blendability that people were willing to reapply.—
Megan McIntyre,
Allure,
16 Sep. 2025
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The Luray Caverns feel almost magical—complete with musical instruments built into the walls, mirror-like lakes that play tricks on your eyes, and even a wishing well tucked into the underground pathways.—
Alexandra Emanuelli,
Southern Living,
16 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Here are five prompts that can be cut-and-pasted into any free AI model to help prospective purchasers save thousands of dollars, identify potential pitfalls in advance and empower renters to stop funding someone else’s wealth plan.—
Tor Constantino,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
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Even CEOs of major AI companies are starting to admit the pitfalls and quirks of the technology.—
Sydney Lake,
Fortune,
9 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Gimmick.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gimmick. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.
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