as in bet
to risk (something) on the outcome of an uncertain event
a foolish man who gambled his life savings on the lottery
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Recent Examples of gambled
Chelsea gambled on Ruud Gullit and Gianluca Vialli, who were simply senior players at that point.
—
Michael Cox, New York Times, 8 Jan. 2026
Nearly seven years ago, Craig Thran gambled $2,000 on hemp.
—Gina Lee Castro, jsonline.com, 20 Nov. 2025
Then the man who came with the satchel would depart, often without having gambled.
—Rob Kuznia, CNN Money, 18 Nov. 2025
Landing a full-time position is a dream come true for many NPS lifers—and not something to be gambled with.
—Frederick Dreier, Outside, 23 Oct. 2025
Gambling is a popular tradition because of the belief whoever gambled on Diwali night would prosper throughout the year.
—Deepa Bharath, Twin Cities, 20 Oct. 2025
Anyone who gambled with that blood for the sake of symbolic triumph would have been accountable for the cost.
—Mohammed R. Mhawish, New Yorker, 14 Oct. 2025
Prestonwood Christian gambled on fourth-and-one from its own 46 when Witten made a shoestring tackle from behind for no gain on Lions quarterback Luke Glass, who had a lot of open field in front of him.
—Mike Waters, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 Oct. 2025
The costume designer’s work has always gambled with class systems and history.
—Hikmat Mohammed, Footwear News, 26 Sep. 2025
Michael Cox, New York Times, 8 Jan. 2026
Nearly seven years ago, Craig Thran gambled $2,000 on hemp.
—Gina Lee Castro, jsonline.com, 20 Nov. 2025
Then the man who came with the satchel would depart, often without having gambled.
—Rob Kuznia, CNN Money, 18 Nov. 2025
Landing a full-time position is a dream come true for many NPS lifers—and not something to be gambled with.
—Frederick Dreier, Outside, 23 Oct. 2025
Gambling is a popular tradition because of the belief whoever gambled on Diwali night would prosper throughout the year.
—Deepa Bharath, Twin Cities, 20 Oct. 2025
Anyone who gambled with that blood for the sake of symbolic triumph would have been accountable for the cost.
—Mohammed R. Mhawish, New Yorker, 14 Oct. 2025
Prestonwood Christian gambled on fourth-and-one from its own 46 when Witten made a shoestring tackle from behind for no gain on Lions quarterback Luke Glass, who had a lot of open field in front of him.
—Mike Waters, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 Oct. 2025
The costume designer’s work has always gambled with class systems and history.
—Hikmat Mohammed, Footwear News, 26 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gambled
Verb
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To the critics, LaFleur is 2-3 in the playoffs as a betting favorite, tied for the worst win rate among 19 coaches with at least five such games this century.—
Mike Sando,
New York Times,
12 Jan. 2026
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This time, a more emboldened administration appears to be betting that both fear and a show of force will be enough to quell a movement that has become fragmented and disillusioned through the years.—
Paola Ramos,
Time,
12 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Gonzales said the situation in Minneapolis, with protesters attempting to interfere in federal immigration operations, has put the United States in an inflection point.—
Anna Giaritelli,
The Washington Examiner,
16 Jan. 2026
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Ford expects to put the first few laps on its new Le Mans challenger in Q3, several months before the team’s maiden race in Qatar in March 2027.—
Jerry Perez,
The Drive,
16 Jan. 2026
Verb
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While the play money is worthless, the tokens can be wagered and later converted into cash for withdrawal.—
Jazz Monroe,
Pitchfork,
2 Jan. 2026
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The team's top four scorers, including Damian Lillard, all did not play that night, as other co-conspirators allegedly wagered more than $100,000 total against Portland.—
Ryan Morik,
FOXNews.com,
30 Dec. 2025
Verb
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Trojans add two to special teams Long snapper Dylan Black and punter Lachlan Carrigan, both of whom played for Memphis last season, each committed to USC out of the transfer portal, rounding out the Trojans’ special teams unit.—
Haley Sawyer,
Oc Register,
14 Jan. 2026
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Werner has 24 goals in 57 games for the German national team and played in the 2018 World Cup.—
Mercury News,
Mercury News,
14 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Gambled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gambled. Accessed 22 Jan. 2026.
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