bait and switch

noun

Definition of bait and switchnext
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

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of bait and switch Then came rideshare, first hooking us all on super-cheap fares and driving the cab companies to the wall, only to reveal the bait and switch and amp up the fares even as amateur drivers blocked our streets. — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 22 Apr. 2026 The company had long promised the protection as a default for Instagram chat, and experts fear that the bait and switch could set a dangerous precedent in the tech industry. — Matt Burgess, Wired News, 21 Mar. 2026 But in classic O’Brien fashion, the sincerity turned out to be a bait and switch that gave rise to a bit of absurdist flight of fancy. — Hershal Pandya, Vulture, 16 Mar. 2026 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 See All Example Sentences for bait and switch
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bait and switch
  1. switcheroo
  2. turnaround
  3. flip-flop
  4. turnabout
  5. renunciation
  6. volte-face
  7. second thought
  8. retraction
Noun
  • What inevitably followed license plates were license plate thefts, that beloved switcheroo getaway technique of movie criminals and real ones.
    — Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 29 Sep. 2026
  • The switcheroo trend is one more lighthearted example of internet prank culture, with successful clips in the genre using comically obvious edits to highlight the misdirection and avoid any real danger of defamation.
    — David Mack, CNN Money, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of switcheroo
Noun
  • Carrick took over on an interim basis in January before overseeing a turnaround in the squad’s fortunes at the tail end of the last campaign.
    — Ben Church, CNN Money, 12 Nov. 2026
  • This is after Burberry sales surprised to the upside in the second quarter, as the group's turnaround gathers pace.
    — Leonie Kidd, CNBC, 12 Nov. 2026
Definition of turnaround
Noun
  • Staff instruct visitors to leave their flip-flops and Birkenstocks at the entrance.
    — Matt Ortile, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Nov. 2026
  • Joe's flip-flops both flew an impressive distance in his final moments, according to the police chalk marks still visible on the road.
    — Kevin Fanady, New Atlas, 6 Nov. 2026
Definition of flip-flop
Noun
  • In a turnabout from Orbán’s hostile approach to Kyiv, Magyar’s government has expressed solidarity with Ukraine and designated Russia a national security threat.
    — Justin Spike, Los Angeles Times, 21 Oct. 2026
  • In a turnabout from Orbán's hostile approach to Kyiv, Magyar's government has expressed solidarity with Ukraine and designated Russia a national security threat.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of turnabout
Noun
  • This renunciation has had little impact on their progeny, who already studied them for years and viewed their content as a portrait of a viable future.
    — Margaux MacColl, Vanity Fair, 11 Aug. 2026
  • Then, over the following years, came sustainability and strict reuse and ascetic renunciation, and today, finally, its photo series and articles advocated for a mild, slightly quirky anticapitalist metaphysics.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 22 July 2026
Definition of renunciation
Noun
  • Love was unclear on the reasons for her volte-face, but speculated that Sky had failed to convince Bake Off stars like Paul Hollywood to make the switch.
    — Jake Kanter, Deadline, 29 Aug. 2026
  • The volte-face in transfer strategy is not necessarily negative.
    — Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 2 Aug. 2026
Definition of volte-face
Noun
  • Subscriptions like Billie cover this for you without a second thought.
    — Sabina Wizemann, Good Housekeeping, 30 Nov. 2022
  • In America, the allure of material comfort is accepted without a second thought.
    — Sarah Zhang, The Atlantic, 20 Nov. 2022
Definition of second thought
Noun
  • According to the complaint, Jennings’ lawyers acknowledged the letter, but no retraction followed.
    — Emma Witman, Fortune, 5 Nov. 2026
  • At the end of August Watkins sent a retraction demand and spoke to Christopher Henderson, Salem Media’s chief legal officer.
    — Abigail Sylvor Greenberg, Vanity Fair, 3 Nov. 2026
Definition of retraction

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Cite this Entry

“Bait and switch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bait%20and%20switch. Accessed 15 Nov. 2026.

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