opening gambit
noun
: a first move
Their opening gambit in the negotiations was to demand a wage hike.
Examples of opening gambit in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Yes, Trump had already made certain concessions in advance, by preemptively walking back his outrageous opening gambit in the tariff war when markets rebelled against the policy.
—
Ross Douthat, Mercury News, 3 Aug. 2025
Leaders of eight major European countries met Monday to coordinate a response, after being caught on their back foot by Trump’s opening gambit on Russia-Ukraine talks.
—Ellen Mitchell, The Hill, 17 Feb. 2025
Trump’s social media post may have been just an opening gambit.
—Brian Stelter, CNN Money, 5 May 2025
The Trump administration has sent mixed signals on whether the president’s tariffs are the opening gambit of trade negotiation.
—Sarah Fortinsky, The Hill, 7 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for opening gambit
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Ross Douthat, Mercury News, 3 Aug. 2025
Leaders of eight major European countries met Monday to coordinate a response, after being caught on their back foot by Trump’s opening gambit on Russia-Ukraine talks.
—Ellen Mitchell, The Hill, 17 Feb. 2025
Trump’s social media post may have been just an opening gambit.
—Brian Stelter, CNN Money, 5 May 2025
The Trump administration has sent mixed signals on whether the president’s tariffs are the opening gambit of trade negotiation.
—Sarah Fortinsky, The Hill, 7 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for opening gambit
Cite this Entry
“Opening gambit.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/opening%20gambit. Accessed 19 Aug. 2025.
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