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
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Recent Examples of gremlin
As mechanized as a race — or a movie — can feel, success or failure hinge on the human element, the hero battling the gremlins in the machine.
—
Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 26 June 2025
If there are a number of cautions on Sunday, don’t be surprised if some teams begin to fight mechanical gremlins.
—Jeff Gluck, New York Times, 14 June 2025
The good news is, the inner critic, like a gremlin, is tameable.
—Sohee Jun, Forbes.com, 19 May 2025
Some gremlins can be unraveled with linear problem-solving, a prowess possessed by AI.
—Chip Bell, Forbes, 15 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for gremlin
Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 26 June 2025
If there are a number of cautions on Sunday, don’t be surprised if some teams begin to fight mechanical gremlins.
—Jeff Gluck, New York Times, 14 June 2025
The good news is, the inner critic, like a gremlin, is tameable.
—Sohee Jun, Forbes.com, 19 May 2025
Some gremlins can be unraveled with linear problem-solving, a prowess possessed by AI.
—Chip Bell, Forbes, 15 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for gremlin
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gremlin
Noun
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Pair the duo with fairy lights, a thin linen runner, and more faux foliage to create a stunning seasonal scene.—
Mariana Best,
Better Homes & Gardens,
5 Sep. 2025
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The fairy houses – known as domus de janas in Sardinian – date back over 5,000 years to the late Neolithic and Copper Age.—
Andrea Margolis,
FOXNews.com,
4 Sep. 2025
Noun
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The box covers the most popular classes and ancestries such as humans, elves, dwarves and halflings.—
Rob Wieland,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
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Four years later, the mischievous elf with pointy ears and a toothy grin made its leap to collectible toy thanks to China’s Pop Mart.—
Renan Botelho,
Footwear News,
7 Sep. 2025
Noun
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This simple act of kindness helps spread the Halloween spirit to all the little goblins and ghosts.—
Maria Sabella,
Better Homes & Gardens,
9 Sep. 2025
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Leigh Gill is set to play Griphook, after his brief appearance as another goblin, Red, in Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.—
Shania Russell,
EW.com,
1 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Later, of course, it was revealed that a quite human dwarf was hidden within the machine, directing the Turk’s gameplay.—
Adam Verner
September 3,
Literary Hub,
3 Sep. 2025
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The shrub grows 6 to 15 feet tall; there are dwarf, medium-sized, and tall varieties.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
24 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Gremlin.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gremlin. Accessed 15 Sep. 2025.
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