as in ventures
a risky undertaking
it's a gamble, but I'm willing to take the risk
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Recent Examples of gambles
Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 2 June 2026
Most of his big gambles, on things such as the MGM studio and library, which led to the creation of the Turner Classic Movies channel, paid off handsomely.
—Michael J. Socolow, The Conversation, 7 May 2026
No fiction writer could dream up a character with so many high-stakes gambles that usually paid off, whose life took so many turns and who was present at so many key late-20th-century moments in various fields.
—Tim Gray, Variety, 6 May 2026
Those gambles never lead to moral wins for the nation, or big wins or jackpots for the poor Black communities that most of our most prodigious athletic artists come from.
—Kiese Laymon, Vanity Fair, 30 Apr. 2026
Of course, all draft choices are gambles.
—Nick Canepa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Apr. 2026
Cheek initially runs towards the pass but gambles on the ball bouncing over the defender and runs behind him.
—Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 23 Apr. 2026
She’s seen what the medium is still capable of, with the success of wild gambles like Everything Everywhere.
—David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 11 Mar. 2026
The Dodgers didn’t take any one-year gambles to address their need in the outfield this winter.
—Bill Plunkett, Oc Register, 21 Jan. 2026
ABC News, 25 Feb. 2026
Noun
For the first four games, the extensive gambles taken by the front office — not just this season but for years — seemed to be paying off in a surprising 3-1 road trip.
—Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 2 June 2026
Most of his big gambles, on things such as the MGM studio and library, which led to the creation of the Turner Classic Movies channel, paid off handsomely.
—Michael J. Socolow, The Conversation, 7 May 2026
No fiction writer could dream up a character with so many high-stakes gambles that usually paid off, whose life took so many turns and who was present at so many key late-20th-century moments in various fields.
—Tim Gray, Variety, 6 May 2026
Those gambles never lead to moral wins for the nation, or big wins or jackpots for the poor Black communities that most of our most prodigious athletic artists come from.
—Kiese Laymon, Vanity Fair, 30 Apr. 2026
Of course, all draft choices are gambles.
—Nick Canepa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Apr. 2026
Cheek initially runs towards the pass but gambles on the ball bouncing over the defender and runs behind him.
—Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 23 Apr. 2026
She’s seen what the medium is still capable of, with the success of wild gambles like Everything Everywhere.
—David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 11 Mar. 2026
The Dodgers didn’t take any one-year gambles to address their need in the outfield this winter.
—Bill Plunkett, Oc Register, 21 Jan. 2026
Verb
As Macron heads toward the end of his time in office — his final term ends next year — the Louvre overhaul has become his signature cultural project — his version of the big museum-and-monument gambles French presidents are often remembered for.
—ABC News, 25 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gambles
Noun
-
Mercury — now in Cancer and your eighth house of joint ventures and psychological motivations — will clash with Saturn, which could trigger serious conversations around dating, children or even financial entanglements.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
4 June 2026
-
Restrictions on presidents themselves are not expected to impact ventures like the Trumps’ World Liberty Financial.—
Eleanor Mueller,
semafor.com,
3 June 2026
Verb
-
An immigrant educator at a struggling East LA high school decides his students can master AP calculus, bets everything on that belief, and turns out to be right.—
Mercury News Editorial Board,
Mercury News,
27 May 2026
-
The prediction market’s CEO, Tarek Mansour, told CNBC that bets on Bad Bunny’s first song alone exceeded $100 million in volume.—
Josephine Rozzelle,
CNBC,
11 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Climate change, from the burning of coal, oil and gas, increased the intensity of Canada's 2023 fire season by at least 50% and doubled the chances of the drier, hotter weather conditions that were needed for the fire, a 2023 study found.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
4 June 2026
-
On a press call Wednesday night, USDA officials stressed that the screwworm was not a threat to the food supply and that the chances of large-scale infestation were tiny.—
Lillie Davidson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
4 June 2026
Verb
-
The general sales tax increase puts money into the county’s general fund for five years and sunsets in October 2031.—
Steve Scauzillo,
Daily News,
9 June 2026
-
What to do nearby Staying here puts you within walking distance of many of Savannah’s most popular attractions.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
9 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Gambles.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gambles. Accessed 10 Jun. 2026.
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