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
Relevance
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
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 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
-
As people who write about food and test kitchen gadgets for a living, Bon Appétit editors are constantly surrounded by a wide range of products.—
Alaina Chou,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
30 Oct. 2025
-
That being said, some travel essentials stay packed and ready—the gear, gadgets, and go-tos that make every trip that much easier.—
Samantha Leal,
Travel + Leisure,
29 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The result is that real patients experience complications in real-time, without knowing risks that may have been uncovered in a clinical trial.—
Elizabeth B. Kim,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
12 Nov. 2025
-
While most health experts agree that these foods are fine as a once-in-a-while treat, a growing body of evidence links regular consumption of UPFs to health risks and chronic conditions like obesity, heart disease, cancer and Type 2 diabetes.—
Helen Carefoot,
Flow Space,
11 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
The new season finds the Shazam moving company battling corporate giant Zenithon Logistics, while Everett (Jae) drags the team through increasingly desperate schemes such as insurance scams, bogus grant applications and a basement AirBnb conversion gone wrong.—
Jesse Whittock,
Deadline,
6 Nov. 2025
-
The company now has a consumer alert on its website warning visitors of such schemes.—
Emily Lorsch,
NBC news,
6 Nov. 2025
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
-
Republicans have other potential pitfalls to navigate, including funding the government.—
Joey Garrison,
USA Today,
6 Nov. 2025
-
Despite the potential pitfalls, many remain undeterred by DIY challenges.—
Lucy Notarantonio,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Since launching in 2012, Candy Crush Saga has remained one of the most popular games on mobile devices, accruing millions of daily players.—
Christopher Cruz,
Rolling Stone,
6 Nov. 2025
-
On the hardware side over 10+ million devices have been built around a recovery phrase by default, entrenching a market expectation in which seed phrases are the go-to recovery method, even as some vendors add alternatives.—
Wyles Daniel,
USA Today,
6 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Gimmicks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gimmicks. Accessed 18 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share