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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of bait and switch
Everything was back to normal by the end of the episode, but this was anything but a mere bait and switch.
—
Robert Lea, Space.com, 14 Mar. 2026
The bait and switch approach to attracting customers is both widespread and costly for the American public.
—Boaz Sobrado, Forbes.com, 8 Jan. 2026
Democrats worry there's a chance this option is a bait and switch, Grisales says.
—Brittney Melton, NPR, 3 Oct. 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
Robert Lea, Space.com, 14 Mar. 2026
The bait and switch approach to attracting customers is both widespread and costly for the American public.
—Boaz Sobrado, Forbes.com, 8 Jan. 2026
Democrats worry there's a chance this option is a bait and switch, Grisales says.
—Brittney Melton, NPR, 3 Oct. 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
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Since last season, the San Francisco Giants have had a little switcheroo, from poor outfield defense to good, average offense to one projected to be among one of the better lineups in the league, and a strong bullpen to one with question marks.—
Susan Slusser,
San Francisco Chronicle,
23 Mar. 2026
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Sophie has spent so long this season being a role of service, and for Benedict to now be washing her hair and then pleasuring her felt like a really nice switcheroo that Sophie deeply deserved.—
Carly Thomas,
HollywoodReporter,
27 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The quick turnaround ship is sailing away.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
12 May 2026
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The Hoosiers’ win completed one of the greatest turnaround stories in sports history.—
Antonio Morales,
New York Times,
12 May 2026
Noun
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Inspired by Zendaya On a recent outing with Tom Holland, Zendaya stepped out in the transitional outfit blueprint, with lightweight white pants, a casual long-sleeve T-shirt, and comfy flip-flop sandals.—
Rachel Trujillo,
PEOPLE,
11 May 2026
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The fresh flip-flop offerings prove that simplicity need not be sacrificed for stylishness, and that all-day comfiness should most certainly not take a back seat to a head-turning summertime aesthetic.—
Stacia Datskovska,
Footwear News,
11 May 2026
Noun
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The biggest factors contributing to the slight turnabout were patient centricity — which refers to prioritizing patient needs — and ensuring patient safety, according to PatientView, a research firm that canvassed patient groups from 35 countries between December 2025 and March 2026.—
Ed Silverman,
STAT,
5 May 2026
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Conservative influencers, among others, blasted the turnabout and questioned Bondi’s capability.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
3 Apr. 2026
Noun
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This was the start of my genuine renunciation.—
Angela Andaloro,
PEOPLE,
4 May 2026
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The department said the new $450 fee remains well below the government’s actual cost of processing renunciation requests.—
Michael Dorgan,
FOXNews.com,
14 Mar. 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
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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
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Alongside its request for a retraction, the SPLC filed a motion asking for grand jury transcripts to make sure false statements weren't used to secure the indictment.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
28 Apr. 2026
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Both crewmembers then focused on the aircraft flight path, and the retraction of the landing gear was inadvertently omitted.—
Gabrielle Rockson,
PEOPLE,
24 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bait and switch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bait%20and%20switch. Accessed 12 May. 2026.
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