as in ruses
a clever often underhanded means to achieve an end
I couldn't tell whether her earlier poor-mouthing had been sincere or just a gambit to get me to pick up the dinner check
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of gambits
The international tourist trade — a key source of Hollywood foot traffic — had a tough 2025 amid the fires and Trump’s foreign and trade policy gambits.
—
Deputy Managing Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
7 June 2026
The Texas and California gambits were the first moves in an elaborate game of gerrymandering chess between the White House and Jeffries.
—
Jason Zengerle,
New Yorker,
18 May 2026
Everything in the movie, from the chomping shark attacks that churn up the waves with Hawaiian Punch foam to the way a humongous great white meets her fate at the end, takes an obvious page from Steven Spielberg’s gambits and techniques.
—
Owen Gleiberman,
Variety,
11 Apr. 2026
But what if all these works were more than just conceptual gambits?
—
Alex Greenberger,
ARTnews.com,
8 Apr. 2026
But there is good reason to think that this time, his gambits may fail.
—
Yair Rosenberg,
The Atlantic,
11 Mar. 2026
Prediction market users make their wartime gambits from someplace comfortable and safe, and hope to hit it big off of someone else's misfortune.
—
Scott Simon,
NPR,
7 Mar. 2026
But taken together, along with the cumulative weight of high-level diplomatic gambits to Beijing now underway — and many more on the horizon — something structural is happening that requires attention.
—
Dewardric L. McNeal,
CNBC,
13 Feb. 2026
None of these actions require dramatic announcements or risky gambits.
—
Sho Dewan,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
Deputy Managing Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
7 June 2026
The Texas and California gambits were the first moves in an elaborate game of gerrymandering chess between the White House and Jeffries.
—
Jason Zengerle,
New Yorker,
18 May 2026
Everything in the movie, from the chomping shark attacks that churn up the waves with Hawaiian Punch foam to the way a humongous great white meets her fate at the end, takes an obvious page from Steven Spielberg’s gambits and techniques.
—
Owen Gleiberman,
Variety,
11 Apr. 2026
But what if all these works were more than just conceptual gambits?
—
Alex Greenberger,
ARTnews.com,
8 Apr. 2026
But there is good reason to think that this time, his gambits may fail.
—
Yair Rosenberg,
The Atlantic,
11 Mar. 2026
Prediction market users make their wartime gambits from someplace comfortable and safe, and hope to hit it big off of someone else's misfortune.
—
Scott Simon,
NPR,
7 Mar. 2026
But taken together, along with the cumulative weight of high-level diplomatic gambits to Beijing now underway — and many more on the horizon — something structural is happening that requires attention.
—
Dewardric L. McNeal,
CNBC,
13 Feb. 2026
None of these actions require dramatic announcements or risky gambits.
—
Sho Dewan,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gambits
Noun
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They are accused of using several ruses to force their way into people’s homes, assaulting unsuspecting residents and holding them hostage for their own money, and demanding access to their crypto accounts.
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Kids will quickly see through her ruses.
Noun
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Federal authorities on Tuesday charged 10 Southern California defendants in a series of healthcare fraud schemes, including one case involving nearly $270 million in fraudulent Medi-Cal claims and another that allegedly defrauded Medicare out of approximately $27 million.
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As contemporary home designs fade the visual bounds between interior and exterior, design pros are calling on lighting designers to illuminate their clients’ landscapes, with schemes that provide everything from safety to spectacle.
Noun
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The Big Think website has been optimized to work with all major browsers and devices.
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Numerous guests were reportedly secured in harnesses and fall protection and then transitioned onto aerial devices.
Noun
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Yamal’s flicks and tricks in his 45-minute appearance were almost enough to make memories for life, while Oyarzabal should have completed his hat-trick (both players would be substituted at the break).
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Vinícius Júnior’s extensive and varied skill set includes blinding speed, dazzling dribbling tricks, and the ability to effortlessly slip past defenders.
Cite this Entry
“Gambits.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gambits. Accessed 26 Jun. 2026.
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