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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Recent Examples of gremlin
Of course, chaos ensues when those rules are broken, unleashing a horde of mischievous, destructive gremlins on his small town.
—
Lauryn Higgins, Parents, 22 Dec. 2025
Almost like a gremlin, the same creature that appears small and tiny then molts its skin and then becomes huge.
—Adam B. Vary, Variety, 10 Nov. 2025
The notion of gremlins was first conceived during the 1920s when mechanical failures in Royal Air Force aircraft were jokingly blamed on the small monsters.
—James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 6 Nov. 2025
Ashley Darby, after seven winters, six summers, and two presidential administrations, has finally gotten divorced from the corporeal gremlin known as Michael Darby.
—Shamira Ibrahim, Vulture, 6 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for gremlin
Lauryn Higgins, Parents, 22 Dec. 2025
Almost like a gremlin, the same creature that appears small and tiny then molts its skin and then becomes huge.
—Adam B. Vary, Variety, 10 Nov. 2025
The notion of gremlins was first conceived during the 1920s when mechanical failures in Royal Air Force aircraft were jokingly blamed on the small monsters.
—James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 6 Nov. 2025
Ashley Darby, after seven winters, six summers, and two presidential administrations, has finally gotten divorced from the corporeal gremlin known as Michael Darby.
—Shamira Ibrahim, Vulture, 6 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for gremlin
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gremlin
Noun
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The original is set in an Australian rainforest populated by fairies, one of whom accidentally shrinks a logger to fairy size.—
Mike Fleming Jr,
Deadline,
17 Apr. 2026
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Garden Figurine Every fairy garden needs a few enchanting creatures to truly bring it to life.—
Sophia Beams,
Better Homes & Gardens,
17 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The company behind that trio of elves, some of the most iconic mascots in pop culture, is the same corporation that put breakfast on the table in the first place.—
Heather Bushman,
USA Today,
15 Apr. 2026
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The puckish figure draws heavily on Nordic fairy tales, including stories of elves.—
Jasmin Malik Chua,
Sourcing Journal,
24 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The move forces her to plunge herself into his fantastical maze-realm to retrieve him in 13 hours, lest he be turned into a goblin.—
David Faris,
TheWeek,
16 Apr. 2026
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This one just happens to involve wizards, goblins, and one savage, half-blind dragon.—
Séamas O'Reilly,
Vulture,
26 Mar. 2026
Noun
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For example, a dwarf galaxy in isolation might need as long as 14 billion years — essentially the age of the universe — to fully reach its stable form.—
Paul Sutter,
Space.com,
20 Apr. 2026
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Look for taller varieties and avoid dwarfs.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
16 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Gremlin.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gremlin. Accessed 27 Apr. 2026.
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