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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of gimmick
In 1882 as a promotional gimmick for the store, Brush invested in a new professional baseball team, the Indianapolis Hoosiers.
—
Libby Cierzniak, IndyStar, 20 Feb. 2026
No gimmicks, just fashion at face value.
—José Criales-Unzueta, Vanity Fair, 19 Feb. 2026
But Western brands often treat the zodiac like a rotating visual gimmick — 12 animals, 12 years, rinse and repeat.
—Yiling Pan, Vogue, 17 Feb. 2026
Forget about sonic devices, scare devices or other gimmicks.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 15 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for gimmick
Libby Cierzniak, IndyStar, 20 Feb. 2026
No gimmicks, just fashion at face value.
—José Criales-Unzueta, Vanity Fair, 19 Feb. 2026
But Western brands often treat the zodiac like a rotating visual gimmick — 12 animals, 12 years, rinse and repeat.
—Yiling Pan, Vogue, 17 Feb. 2026
Forget about sonic devices, scare devices or other gimmicks.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 15 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for gimmick
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gimmick
Noun
-
While the ruse was going, Schreiner lashed out at anyone who was skeptical.—
Kenneal Patterson,
Vanity Fair,
19 Feb. 2026
-
In a ruse that, for lack of a more astute reference point here, feels very Don Draper-coded, Rose poses as the dear male soldier who died next to her in battle, figuring why waste the deeds to perfectly decent land, or his name.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
17 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
While a reliable snow shovel is essential, adding smart gadgets like an automatic car starter or a quality ice melt to your arsenal can make those frosty mornings far less daunting.—
Casey DelBasso,
ABC News,
23 Feb. 2026
-
The inspiration behind LinkerBot LinkerBot CEO Zhou revealed that the inspiration to build dexterous human hands came from watching Doraemon, a famous Japanese cartoon character known for possessing innovative gadgets.—
Atharva Gosavi,
Interesting Engineering,
23 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The second run was also smooth, getting through the tough top section without a hitch and pushing through the slower middle section.—
Steve Douglas,
Chicago Tribune,
18 Feb. 2026
-
The workload can be exhausting, but — so far — Richaud’s outfit changes have gone off without a hitch.—
Brittany Ghiroli,
New York Times,
17 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
This latest news comes just a few weeks after Mayweather filed a lawsuit against Showtime Networks and the former president of Showtime Sports, accusing the company of helping facilitate a fraud scheme that deprived him of roughly $340 million in earnings.—
Matt Schubert,
New York Times,
21 Feb. 2026
-
Güell’s vision was to build an estate for affluent families—Gaudí planned 60 homes, a market, and gardens inspired by British parks (which explains the English spelling of the Catalan word parc), but the scheme never took off.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
21 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Administration officials have made the children’s savings tool from the megabill a key part of their affordability pitch.—
Eleanor Mueller,
semafor.com,
23 Feb. 2026
-
The sheriff's office confirmed investigators are looking into investigative genetic genealogy, a relatively new forensic tool made possible by the rise in popularity of consumer genetic testing, where people can send their DNA to find out about their ancestry and locate potential relatives.—
Jeanine Santucci,
USA Today,
22 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Once stationary, turn off all lights except the hazard flashers, engage the emergency brake, and release the brake pedal to ensure your tail lights are not illuminated, reducing the risk of other drivers colliding with your stationary vehicle.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
27 Feb. 2026
-
Brazil's meteorology institute, Inmet, said on Thursday morning that more rain with strong winds was forecast, and pointed to a risk of power outages, falling tree branches, flooding and lightning strikes.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
27 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Wang Xindi won his first Olympic gold earlier today after landing a trick with five twists in the aerial event.—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
20 Feb. 2026
-
From selecting the perfect bag, to using versatile pouches, and choosing your accessories methodically, these are my tips and tricks for personal item packing.—
Taylor Fox,
Travel + Leisure,
19 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
And so do all the little obstacles and pitfalls along the way.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
23 Feb. 2026
-
In an environment in which people scrutinize AI’s pitfalls, how a company tells its story can affect valuation, regulation, and talent recruitment.—
Sydney Lake,
Fortune,
23 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Gimmick.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gimmick. Accessed 27 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
