1
as in ruse
a clever often underhanded means to achieve an end
that free dinner is just a sales gimmick to get you to listen to their sales pitch
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2
as in gadget
an interesting and often novel device with a practical use
a car equipped with a parking spot locator and other neat gimmicks
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in hitch
a danger or difficulty that is hidden or not easily recognized
the deal sounds too good to be true, so make sure there aren't any gimmicks
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of gimmick
This will be kind of a fun gimmick for the story.
—
Hanna Rosin, The Atlantic, 12 Mar. 2026
There really is no Zero-SP path and few structural gimmicks.
—Michael Salfino, New York Times, 11 Mar. 2026
The movie deploys De Palma’s signature split-screen technique, arguably the best use of this gimmick in his whole filmography.
—Jordan Hoffman, Entertainment Weekly, 11 Mar. 2026
There’s no gimmicks or bells and whistles to this story.
—Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 11 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for gimmick
Hanna Rosin, The Atlantic, 12 Mar. 2026
There really is no Zero-SP path and few structural gimmicks.
—Michael Salfino, New York Times, 11 Mar. 2026
The movie deploys De Palma’s signature split-screen technique, arguably the best use of this gimmick in his whole filmography.
—Jordan Hoffman, Entertainment Weekly, 11 Mar. 2026
There’s no gimmicks or bells and whistles to this story.
—Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 11 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for gimmick
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gimmick
Noun
-
Who is the ‘hero,’ the person who is not in on the ruse?—
Malia Mendez,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Mar. 2026
-
As part of the ruse to extract her from Venezuela, Machado wore a disguise to leave the country, violating Venezuela’s then-travel ban, according to the Associated Press.—
Washington Examiner Staff,
The Washington Examiner,
13 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Vast’s Haven-1 module, for example, is designed to have just 45 cubic meters (1,500 cubic feet) of habitable volume, with soft white walls accented by maple wood veneer slats that conceal research gadgets in the walls.—
Jackie Wattles,
CNN Money,
21 Mar. 2026
-
Mims is a return weapon and gadget specialist who can exploit mismatches anywhere.—
Sean Keeler,
Denver Post,
21 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Notably in 2011, the first deployment of the GCC’s Peninsula Shield Force to Bahrain, with Saudi and UAE forces entering the kingdom at the behest of the government, seemed to go off without a hitch.—
Hadley Gamble,
semafor.com,
19 Mar. 2026
-
The group’s first smuggle went off without a hitch — as Pace, Keenan, and Prager ran a load of around 7,000 pounds of pot from Colombia into Maine.—
Jack Crosbie,
Rolling Stone,
17 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The scheme involved thousands of dummy servers, according to the indictment.—
Aaron Katersky,
ABC News,
20 Mar. 2026
-
Prosecutors have called the Feeding Our Future scheme the largest pandemic fraud case in the country.—
WCCO Staff,
CBS News,
20 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The space program has led to the invention of heart rate monitoring technology, scratch-resistance lenses, memory foam mattresses, rechargeable batteries, wireless headphones, the Jaws of Life rescue tool, GPS and even banking technology.—
Sarah D. Wire,
USA Today,
23 Mar. 2026
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But investigators will use them as a tool to judge an individual's credibility.—
Peter Van Sant,
CBS News,
22 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
That said, slow running aligns with the zone 2 cardio trend, which promises ample cardiovascular benefit, plus minimized injury risk.—
Jenny McCoy,
SELF,
20 Mar. 2026
-
Moreover, such an action risks preventing favorable conditions for a historic dialogue between the governments of the two countries, which are both united by a desire to disarm Hezbollah and strengthen Lebanon’s state capacities.—
Asher Kaufman,
The Conversation,
20 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
If your complexion feels dry or irritated, any Illiyoon product or treatment will pretty much do the trick.—
Christa Joanna Lee,
Allure,
21 Mar. 2026
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To help break down how to apply mascara correctly, Gray shares her best methods and tricks.—
Ariana Yaptangco,
Glamour,
20 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The forthcoming guide, which education officials have described as a first step toward a more comprehensive handbook to be issued at a later date, is coming as families and teachers are deeply divided and anxious about the potential — and pitfalls — of the new technology.—
Cayla Bamberger,
New York Daily News,
23 Mar. 2026
-
For all its divine ambition, the series falls victim to the same old pitfalls that have sunk biopics of so many lesser mortals.—
Angie Han,
HollywoodReporter,
22 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Gimmick.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gimmick. Accessed 27 Mar. 2026.
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