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
This will be kind of a fun gimmick for the story.
—
Hanna Rosin, The Atlantic, 12 Mar. 2026
There really is no Zero-SP path and few structural gimmicks.
—Michael Salfino, New York Times, 11 Mar. 2026
The movie deploys De Palma’s signature split-screen technique, arguably the best use of this gimmick in his whole filmography.
—Jordan Hoffman, Entertainment Weekly, 11 Mar. 2026
There’s no gimmicks or bells and whistles to this story.
—Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 11 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for gimmick
Hanna Rosin, The Atlantic, 12 Mar. 2026
There really is no Zero-SP path and few structural gimmicks.
—Michael Salfino, New York Times, 11 Mar. 2026
The movie deploys De Palma’s signature split-screen technique, arguably the best use of this gimmick in his whole filmography.
—Jordan Hoffman, Entertainment Weekly, 11 Mar. 2026
There’s no gimmicks or bells and whistles to this story.
—Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 11 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for gimmick
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gimmick
Noun
-
The play begins in the mode of a Black sitcom, but this is an elaborate ruse for a theatrical dissection of the subjects of race, representation, spectatorship and control.—
Theater Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
25 Mar. 2026
-
Only when she is betrayed by a servant do the suitors discover the ruse.—
Christine Smallwood,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Apple would go on to revolutionize the tech industry, creating innovative, intuitive and beautiful gadgets billions of people would buy again and again.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Mar. 2026
-
That is a more useful place to start than a new supplement or sleep gadget.—
Allison Palmer,
Miami Herald,
30 Mar. 2026
Noun
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This led to serious concerns from some quarters, with science popularizer Michio Kaku among the leaders of the protests demanding the launch be scrubbed, but Cassini–Huygens' went ahead without a hitch, as have all the subsequent RTG missions.—
Keith Cooper,
Space.com,
27 Mar. 2026
-
Notably in 2011, the first deployment of the GCC’s Peninsula Shield Force to Bahrain, with Saudi and UAE forces entering the kingdom at the behest of the government, seemed to go off without a hitch.—
Hadley Gamble,
semafor.com,
19 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Research also suggests that state and federal gas taxes are just one component of a complex pricing scheme that includes the global price of oil and other factors, the group said.—
Matthew Daly,
Chicago Tribune,
28 Mar. 2026
-
Court records in both the federal criminal case and Bonta’s civil suit alleged the scam began as early as 2014 and ended in August 2023, shortly after Voice of San Diego first exposed the scheme publicly in a series of stories.—
Alex Riggins,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
27 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Seven stacks of tiny paper cups were arranged to the left, next to packets of Nescafé, pouches of two-minute noodles, and a double gas burner connected to the cylinder—the main tool of his trade.—
Nathan Heller,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
-
Abbott’s use of AL16 as a marketing tool worked.—
David Hilzenrath,
USA Today,
29 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
March 21 – April 19 This morning invites playful risks that still feel safe.—
Tarot.com,
Hartford Courant,
27 Mar. 2026
-
Understanding the gravity of a red flag warning and adhering to these precautions is pivotal in mitigating the risk of wildfires during these perilous conditions.—
KANSAS CITY STAR WEATHER BOT,
Kansas City Star,
27 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The only trick now is for the league to get a team to the final Monday night of the season and actually cut down the nets.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
28 Mar. 2026
-
Eating a balanced diet should do the trick for the majority.—
Caroline Tien,
SELF,
27 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
But today, their company Lehman Brothers — which catastrophically collapsed in bankruptcy in 2008 — is remembered as a textbook case for the pitfalls of unchecked greed, corruption and moral bankruptcy.—
Pam Kragen,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
29 Mar. 2026
-
Others joked about the pitfalls of staying too close to home.—
Lydia Patrick,
MSNBC Newsweek,
29 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Gimmick.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gimmick. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.
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