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
The results quickly proved to be more than a gimmick.
—
Cody Stavenhagen, New York Times, 19 June 2025
From the moment Voyager 1 appears on screen, floating in silence, then drifting seemingly out of the theater screen toward the audience, the stereo work adds depth and immersion without ever becoming a gimmick.
—Scott Snowden, Space.com, 18 June 2025
But to make that happen, Lamont and his fellow Democrats in the legislature’s majority launched the fund outside the formal budget and therefore outside the spending cap — an accounting gimmick decried by conservatives.
—Keith M. Phaneuf, Hartford Courant, 17 June 2025
In a city where pizza options continue to grow, Siano’s is a reminder that great pizza doesn’t need gimmicks.
—Tristan Graziano, Charlotte Observer, 16 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for gimmick
Cody Stavenhagen, New York Times, 19 June 2025
From the moment Voyager 1 appears on screen, floating in silence, then drifting seemingly out of the theater screen toward the audience, the stereo work adds depth and immersion without ever becoming a gimmick.
—Scott Snowden, Space.com, 18 June 2025
But to make that happen, Lamont and his fellow Democrats in the legislature’s majority launched the fund outside the formal budget and therefore outside the spending cap — an accounting gimmick decried by conservatives.
—Keith M. Phaneuf, Hartford Courant, 17 June 2025
In a city where pizza options continue to grow, Siano’s is a reminder that great pizza doesn’t need gimmicks.
—Tristan Graziano, Charlotte Observer, 16 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for gimmick
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gimmick
Noun
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Barriers lifted in advance, Mellor and his French Resistance passengers hurtled through at 80mph leaving guards little chance of spotting the night-time ruse.—
Iain Macauley,
Forbes.com,
5 June 2025
-
The ruse, Smith suggested in her memoir, was employed successfully on at least one occasion.—
Laurie Gwen Shapiro,
New Yorker,
2 June 2025
Noun
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Best Buy: There’s no shortage of tech deals to be found at Best Buy, where hundreds of laptops, appliances, headphones, and more gadgets are currently on sale — including this 98-inch Smart TV that’s $1,200 off.—
Averi Baudler,
People.com,
24 June 2025
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Now, thanks to the development of GaN technology, a power supply can be small enough to fit in a coat pocket and have enough outlets and muscle to power the most demanding laptops and gadgets.—
Mark Sparrow,
Forbes.com,
23 June 2025
Noun
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Safety-wise, last year’s Fanatics Fest went off mostly without a hitch.—
Pat Leonard,
New York Daily News,
19 June 2025
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The party ended up going off without a hitch, as the pictures Morello shared with Newsweek show.—
Jack Beresford,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 June 2025
Noun
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And most recycling schemes are still small-scale, unable to keep up with the sheer volume of cheap and short-use clothing flowing through the system.—
Zoe Bayliss Wong,
Forbes.com,
30 June 2025
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Galeotti said these schemes can increase the national deficit and threaten the long-term viability of health care for seniors, individuals with disabilities and other citizens who need these programs.—
Jenna Sundel
Hollie Silverman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 June 2025
Noun
-
Human smugglers, often linked to drug cartels, have used tunnels, ladders and power tools to cross walls.—
Sydney Lake,
Fortune,
26 June 2025
-
On top of that, with a variety of third-party tools available on the market, business owners can also have their pick, according to RMIT Vietnam’s Parida.—
Bernice Ooi,
CNBC,
26 June 2025
Noun
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If a child is experiencing an acute mental health crisis such as suicidal ideation or self-harm, Miller says most states allow the parent to act alone, especially if delaying poses a safety risk.—
Sherri Gordon,
Parents,
23 June 2025
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The stakes got significantly higher overnight after US struck nuclear sites in Iran with the risk that Trump will get sucked into a spiraling conflict in the Middle East after being a vocal critic of US military involvement overseas.—
Eleanor Pringle,
Fortune,
23 June 2025
Noun
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This isn't the first time the former Sports Illustrated model has shared parenting tips and tricks.—
Clare Fisher,
People.com,
23 June 2025
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The magic trick is that Sunny gradually learned how to distinguish its POV from the characters’, showing empathy not only for the Gang’s victims, but also the Gang itself.—
Alan Sepinwall,
Rolling Stone,
22 June 2025
Noun
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Beware the pitfalls As exciting as agentic AI with BDI models can be, there are also potential downsides.—
Tomas Gorny,
Forbes.com,
26 June 2025
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Even Wolfe Herd admitted the pitfalls of dating apps.—
Sydney Lake,
Fortune,
25 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Gimmick.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gimmick. Accessed 4 Jul. 2025.
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