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
  • After a brief turnaround, the late show attendees were allowed inside, where a solo harpist set the mood with ambient music.
    — Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 1 Oct. 2026
  • The challenge now is making sure the album has enough time to establish its own identity instead of getting lost in that quick turnaround or blending with the Something Beautiful era.
    — Christopher Claxton, Billboard, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of turnaround
Noun
  • So, say goodbye to your flip-flops and bathing suits in exchange for hats and scarves instead, and consider pushing your tank tops and shorts to the back of your drawer to make room for sweaters and boots.
    — BestReviews, Chicago Tribune, 25 Sep. 2026
  • The Brazilian flip-flop brand’s familiar design codes were jumping-off points for repetition, alteration and unexpected transformation across the collection.
    — Jaden Thompson, Footwear News, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of flip-flop
Noun
  • In a surprising turnabout, New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art canceled a John Galliano exhibition that was due to open next spring, in what would have been the Costume Institute‘s big May 2027 show, held in tandem with the notorious Met Gala.
    — Alex Greenberger, ARTnews.com, 31 Aug. 2026
  • The turnabout led to a statewide recount that took weeks, cost more than $260,000 and ultimately reaffirmed Prosser's reelection.
    — Steven Martinez, jsonline.com, 12 Aug. 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
  • More than 250 signatories to a nationwide open letter that included professors at Harvard and Stanford also called for a retraction.
    — Jaweed Kaleem, Los Angeles Times, 18 Sep. 2026
  • The unit requires zero maintenance on its retraction element and offers standard mounting configurations for leading industrial robot platforms, including KUKA, ABB, and FANUC.
    — IEEE Spectrum, IEEE Spectrum, 3 Sep. 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 4 Oct. 2026.

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