as in switcheroo
US
a selling method in which a customer is attracted by the advertisement of a low-priced product but then is encouraged to buy a more expensive one
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Recent Examples of bait and switch
With the sudden reveal that most of these kids aren’t our heroes after all, Welcome to Derry delivers a stunning bait and switch.
—
Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 27 Oct. 2025
Democrats worry there's a chance this option is a bait and switch, Grisales says.
—Brittney Melton, NPR, 3 Oct. 2025
In the end, the comedic payoff often comes from the fact that the Truth Teller’s work isn’t very good—a curious bait and switch, if the show truly does aspire to prove the worth of dogged, ethical accountability reporting.
—Jon Allsop, New Yorker, 5 Sep. 2025
This subtle bait and switch from a national identity crisis to a personal identity crisis is imaginative and, for a time, intriguing, with Gadebois doing some very heavy lifting as the bad guy that means well but, nevertheless, behaves appallingly.
—Damon Wise, Deadline, 28 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bait and switch
Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 27 Oct. 2025
Democrats worry there's a chance this option is a bait and switch, Grisales says.
—Brittney Melton, NPR, 3 Oct. 2025
In the end, the comedic payoff often comes from the fact that the Truth Teller’s work isn’t very good—a curious bait and switch, if the show truly does aspire to prove the worth of dogged, ethical accountability reporting.
—Jon Allsop, New Yorker, 5 Sep. 2025
This subtle bait and switch from a national identity crisis to a personal identity crisis is imaginative and, for a time, intriguing, with Gadebois doing some very heavy lifting as the bad guy that means well but, nevertheless, behaves appallingly.
—Damon Wise, Deadline, 28 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bait and switch
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bait and switch
Noun
-
Republicans have held the Senate 12 times, Democrats 11 times (though one involved a switcheroo).—
Chris Stirewalt,
The Hill,
16 Jan. 2026
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Mini Kim and mini Khloé pulled a switcheroo with their T-shirts — a favorite pastime of theirs, according to Khloé, who posted this adorable pic.—
Andrea Wurzburger,
PEOPLE,
15 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Facing declining sales and revenue in 2025, Jack in the Box is in need of another turnaround.—
Fielding Buck,
Oc Register,
16 Feb. 2026
-
Suarez punctuated the run with an impressive one-legged turnaround jumper.—
Steven Johnson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
16 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Straight jeans evoke a classic ’90s feel that gets an instant upgrade when paired with platform flip-flops.—
Alex Sales,
Glamour,
15 Feb. 2026
-
Pack a beach tote that’s big enough to fit a book, sun hat, flip-flops, and a cover-up.—
Natalie Hammond,
Condé Nast Traveler,
11 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Recent presidential-election trends illustrate this turnabout.—
Mark Leibovich,
The Atlantic,
11 Feb. 2026
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Since Virginia is one of the few purple states remaining, this sudden turnabout reveals where Democrats and Republicans disagree on higher education.—
Andy Smarick,
Washington Post,
2 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Keep in mind, though, that renunciation is considered permanent.—
Liz Weston,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
15 Feb. 2026
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Annual renunciations surged to a record high of 6,705 in 2020, with numbers remaining elevated ever since, according to immigration services company Boundless.—
Medora Lee,
USA Today,
27 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
This volte-face was not just about electoral politics.—
Robert F. Worth,
The Atlantic,
17 Jan. 2026
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The Kremlin has denied any such request was made, which tells you something about how Moscow views the optics of this diplomatic volte-face.—
Bobby Ghosh,
Time,
22 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
Subscriptions like Billie cover this for you without a second thought.—
Sabina Wizemann,
Good Housekeeping,
30 Nov. 2022
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In America, the allure of material comfort is accepted without a second thought.—
Sarah Zhang,
The Atlantic,
20 Nov. 2022
Noun
-
China denounced her and demanded a retraction.—
Jeff Kingston,
Time,
15 Feb. 2026
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An honest newspaper would print a large retraction.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
28 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bait and switch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bait%20and%20switch. Accessed 20 Feb. 2026.
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