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
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The turnaround in form has emboldened opposition fans to have some fun at the Gunners’ expense.—
Ben Church,
CNN Money,
20 Apr. 2026
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The day will feature plenty of sunshine and quite a nice temperature turnaround.—
Steven Sosna,
CBS News,
20 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The Getaway Platform Sandal reworks a classic flip-flop with a slight lift and fun color options, from metallics to bright pink.—
Chaise Sanders,
Travel + Leisure,
17 Apr. 2026
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The lack of reprieve meant that along with Greg’s flip-flopping shifts, my moods tended to follow suit.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
15 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Conservative influencers, among others, blasted the turnabout and questioned Bondi’s capability.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
3 Apr. 2026
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In a turnabout-is-fair-play moment, a Sparty fan showed during a break of the Wolverines’ game was treated with equal disdain.—
Dana O’Neil,
CNN Money,
20 Mar. 2026
Noun
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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
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British psychiatrist Humphry Osmond, who took part in a peyote ceremony with a First Nations group the Red Pheasant Band in Saskatchewan, Canada, in 1956, intuited the necessity of community, empathy, and ego renunciation during the psychedelic process.—
Erica Rex,
STAT,
19 Feb. 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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The notice, which followed a request for a retraction, indicated that a review was underway.—
Ed Silverman,
STAT,
15 Apr. 2026
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But other scientists argue that there’s a lack of hard evidence showing glyphosate to be safe, especially following the retraction in November of a landmark study cited by many regulators as proof that the herbicide is not carcinogenic.—
The Week US,
TheWeek,
23 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bait and switch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bait%20and%20switch. Accessed 22 Apr. 2026.
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