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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Recent Examples of gambit
Netflix's latest gambit to test the powers of love, Age of Attraction, is a dating show where singles meet without knowing one another's ages, creating connections across the generation(s) gap.
—
Elizabeth Logan, Glamour, 26 Mar. 2026
The gambit involves a plan to fund ICE separately and pass parts of the SAVE America Act, an elections overhaul bill, without any Democratic support through a budget process called reconciliation.
—Barbara Sprunt, NPR, 25 Mar. 2026
The following selections span the gambit from absorbent coasters to rattan coasters to high-quality pieces that are only occasionally dishwasher-safe—sorry.
—Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 19 Mar. 2026
The gambit succeeded in amplifying calls from the party’s conservative base for Republicans to pass the legislation by any means necessary.
—Joseph Morton, Dallas Morning News, 17 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for gambit
Elizabeth Logan, Glamour, 26 Mar. 2026
The gambit involves a plan to fund ICE separately and pass parts of the SAVE America Act, an elections overhaul bill, without any Democratic support through a budget process called reconciliation.
—Barbara Sprunt, NPR, 25 Mar. 2026
The following selections span the gambit from absorbent coasters to rattan coasters to high-quality pieces that are only occasionally dishwasher-safe—sorry.
—Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 19 Mar. 2026
The gambit succeeded in amplifying calls from the party’s conservative base for Republicans to pass the legislation by any means necessary.
—Joseph Morton, Dallas Morning News, 17 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for gambit
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gambit
Noun
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Carreyrou acknowledged an obvious objection to this thesis—that there is a lengthy paper trail of Back corresponding with Satoshi—but explains it away by saying that Back was actually writing to himself as part of an elaborate ruse to throw would-be unmaskers off the trail.—
Jeff John Roberts,
Fortune,
8 Apr. 2026
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By the finale, the ruse is revealed, and the star walks away with prize money and a behind-the-scenes tour of The Truman Show–esque operation.—
Angelina Mazza,
Vulture,
7 Apr. 2026
Noun
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In the meantime, Vx Underground says the malware used in the attack shares a command-and-control server with another scheme spotted last month involving a look-alike FileZilla site hosting a Trojanized copy of the software.—
Michael Kan,
PC Magazine,
10 Apr. 2026
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During the hearing, Hamdan admitted to creating and operating a scheme to submit false and fraudulent claims for prescription drugs.—
Paula Wethington,
CBS News,
10 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Supernova the Strongwoman will dazzle the crowd with risky tricks and demolition.—
Jaclyn Cosgrove,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Apr. 2026
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CEOs who have climbed to the top of their industries have an eagle eye for talent who drive success—and many have developed their own tricks to find the right hires.—
Emma Burleigh,
Fortune,
10 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Gambit.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gambit. Accessed 11 Apr. 2026.
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