as in ruse
a clever often underhanded means to achieve an end
The seemingly benign questioning was all just a gambit to get them to fess up to their wrongdoing.
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of gambit
In fact, the opening two gambits were superb as Federer had to fend off a youthful Nick Kyrgios to clinch the inaugural 2017 version, while Team World pushed Europe all the way in Chicago a year later.
—
Tim Ellis, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
Connor’s gambit works, and all three characters go out dancing before concluding their evening with the titular scene.
—Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 12 Sep. 2025
The whole Nuremberg tribunal was a gambit at first, a new experiment that came together after Hitler’s suicide and the end of the war.
—Pete Hammond, Deadline, 7 Sep. 2025
Unfortunately, few of Holland’s other gambits pay off.
—Sam Bodrojan, IndieWire, 5 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for gambit
Tim Ellis, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
Connor’s gambit works, and all three characters go out dancing before concluding their evening with the titular scene.
—Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 12 Sep. 2025
The whole Nuremberg tribunal was a gambit at first, a new experiment that came together after Hitler’s suicide and the end of the war.
—Pete Hammond, Deadline, 7 Sep. 2025
Unfortunately, few of Holland’s other gambits pay off.
—Sam Bodrojan, IndieWire, 5 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for gambit
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gambit
Noun
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But authorities now believe Speight made the whole story up — and even shot himself as part of a ruse.—
Janelle Griffith,
PEOPLE,
30 Sep. 2025
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How could Russ possibly sustain this ruse?—
Nicholas Quah,
Vulture,
29 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Rosenzweig worked on dozens of complex cases as a prosecutor in the economic crimes section, which focuses on healthcare fraud, money laundering and other financial schemes.—
Jay Weaver,
Miami Herald,
3 Oct. 2025
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The Lions’ surprisingly poor showing against their NFC North rivals kneecapped CBS’ deliveries, although the Eye Network also didn’t get much of a lift from the new BDP scheme.—
Anthony Crupi,
Sportico.com,
3 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The most exciting feature is the realistic mask, though, which has mesh eyes for kids to see through while trick-or-treating, and an adjustable strap to fit their head properly.—
Katrina Cossey,
Parents,
1 Oct. 2025
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Perhaps most frustrating, two Johnson attempts to dig into his trick bag misfired.—
Dan Wiederer,
New York Times,
30 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Gambit.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gambit. Accessed 7 Oct. 2025.
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