1
as in ruses
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
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2
as in gadgets
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 risks
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 gimmicks
The early days of Zohran Mamdani’s primary campaign were heavy with gimmicks.
—
Clio Chang, Curbed, 5 Nov. 2025
Some are borderline ingenious, while others seem more like marketing gimmicks.
—New Atlas, 30 Oct. 2025
There was a time when 3D and IMAX were thought of as gimmicks, right?
—Damon Wise, Deadline, 29 Oct. 2025
Some of the visual and editorial gimmicks feel a bit desperate in trying to lend third-hand ideas a patina of fresh excitement, but the film’s tech and design factors are solid for its relatively modest scale.
—Dennis Harvey, Variety, 28 Oct. 2025
The 65-year-old exercise instructor and fitness personality didn’t rely on gimmicks to get Mel Owen’s attention.
—Jessica Radloff, Glamour, 23 Oct. 2025
Stop gimmicks like hard appraisal caps that just shift the burden to others and drive up housing costs.
—Eleanor Dearman, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 13 Oct. 2025
Rather than chasing gimmicks, the company has doubled down on image quality, system reliability, and post-incident usability.
—Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 10 Oct. 2025
Stripping all the fat and gimmicks from recent entries like Battlefield 2024 (2021) and Battlefield 1 (2016), the gameplay style has gone back to emulate the design of the series’ best installments like Battlefield 3 and 4 (2011 and 2013).
—Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 9 Oct. 2025
Clio Chang, Curbed, 5 Nov. 2025
Some are borderline ingenious, while others seem more like marketing gimmicks.
—New Atlas, 30 Oct. 2025
There was a time when 3D and IMAX were thought of as gimmicks, right?
—Damon Wise, Deadline, 29 Oct. 2025
Some of the visual and editorial gimmicks feel a bit desperate in trying to lend third-hand ideas a patina of fresh excitement, but the film’s tech and design factors are solid for its relatively modest scale.
—Dennis Harvey, Variety, 28 Oct. 2025
The 65-year-old exercise instructor and fitness personality didn’t rely on gimmicks to get Mel Owen’s attention.
—Jessica Radloff, Glamour, 23 Oct. 2025
Stop gimmicks like hard appraisal caps that just shift the burden to others and drive up housing costs.
—Eleanor Dearman, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 13 Oct. 2025
Rather than chasing gimmicks, the company has doubled down on image quality, system reliability, and post-incident usability.
—Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 10 Oct. 2025
Stripping all the fat and gimmicks from recent entries like Battlefield 2024 (2021) and Battlefield 1 (2016), the gameplay style has gone back to emulate the design of the series’ best installments like Battlefield 3 and 4 (2011 and 2013).
—Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 9 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gimmicks
Noun
-
The New York Colored American reported that some offers of short-term work for Black men — moving livestock to or from Kentucky, for example — were ruses that ended with kidnappings.—
Equal Justice Initiative,
USA Today,
6 Nov. 2025
-
Many suspect a spam call and don't pick up the phone, leading foundation staff to sometimes devise ruses.—
Kelly Meyerhofer,
jsonline.com,
8 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The little shop’s name comes from the quartermaster character, Q, who provides the gadgets and, more to the point, Aston Martin cars for James Bond in the famous movies.—
Peter Valdes-Dapena,
CNN Money,
6 Jan. 2026
-
Users can also manage their smart home gadgets within the Alexa+ chat window, the company said.—
Annie Palmer,
CNBC,
5 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Proper humidifier placement protects your home and health by preventing mold, moisture damage, and safety risks.—
Caroline Lubinsky,
Martha Stewart,
7 Jan. 2026
-
The risks inherent in the LBO structure are exacerbated by the amount of debt PSKY must incur, its current financial position and future prospects, as well as the lengthy period to close the transaction – which PSKY itself estimates to be 12-18 months following signing.—
Todd Spangler,
Variety,
7 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The 40-year-old cooks up ways to make quarterbacks miserable in his sleep, devising schemes that are meant to lure as much as they are intended to confuse.—
Dana O’Neil,
CNN Money,
10 Jan. 2026
-
More than 90 people, most with ties to the state’s Somali community, have been charged in fraud schemes targeting social services.—
Kaelan Deese,
The Washington Examiner,
9 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Many have had the wheels or hitches removed years ago.—
Cassie Powell,
The Conversation,
3 Nov. 2025
-
The two-door, three-person Can-Am Defender Limited and the four-door, six-person Defender Max Limited have 82-horsepower engines, power steering, tow hitches with a 2,500-pound towing capacity, winches, air conditioning and heating, a full hard roof and a three-position tilt-up glass windshield.—
Steve Waters,
Miami Herald,
12 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Cherki is visibly excited by his spectators, eager to show off his tricks, until a coach comes into frame on the YouTube video and tells them their fun is over.—
Jordan Campbell,
New York Times,
8 Nov. 2025
-
Cheo was a jokester and would play tricks on her, like pretending to be asleep, to lighten the mood.—
Kevin G. Hall,
Miami Herald,
7 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Travel experts explain how to earn more points, avoid common pitfalls, and get top-tier value from your miles.—
Lauren Dana Ellman,
Travel + Leisure,
9 Jan. 2026
-
Anecdotally, though, consumers have said prediction markets present similar pitfalls as traditional sportsbooks.—
Dan Bernstein,
Sportico.com,
9 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Samsung says the sensor targets users who want professional-grade imaging from mobile devices.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
10 Jan. 2026
-
Speaking to gadgets is often faster than typing, but Amazon and Nirva also see their devices as another means to gather data that can provide insights about a user’s life, though doing so will surely raise privacy concerns.—
Lisa Eadicicco,
CNN Money,
10 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Gimmicks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gimmicks. Accessed 10 Jan. 2026.
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