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
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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
Republican lawmakers pointed quickly to the report as backing their contention that Newsom and lawmakers have been balancing the budget using accounting gimmicks.
—
Sacbee.com, 19 May 2026
The deficits were papered over with a series of short-term fixes, including loans and accounting gimmicks.
—Dan Walters, Mercury News, 19 May 2026
Some of the Heart Attack Grill's most provocative gimmicks included public spankings for customers who failed to finish their meals, plus free food for patrons weighing more than 350 pounds.
—Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 19 May 2026
His current projects may have a futuristic flavour, but Fotiadis is emphatically against styling gimmicks in superyacht design.
—Dea Jusufi, Forbes.com, 16 May 2026
That focus on results — rather than gimmicks — is a big reason travelers are willing to fly halfway around the world for a facial.
—Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 15 May 2026
In a crowded reusable-bottle market the Maxi doesn’t try to stand apart through visual excess or technical gimmicks.
—New Atlas, 12 May 2026
The three resorts enjoyed expansion and growth throughout the 2010s by utilizing low prices, gimmicks and attractions to lure guests.
—Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 10 May 2026
By contrast, the Republican plan relies on one-off gimmicks and volatile funding schemes that don’t last.
—Keith M. Phaneuf, Hartford Courant, 2 May 2026
Sacbee.com, 19 May 2026
The deficits were papered over with a series of short-term fixes, including loans and accounting gimmicks.
—Dan Walters, Mercury News, 19 May 2026
Some of the Heart Attack Grill's most provocative gimmicks included public spankings for customers who failed to finish their meals, plus free food for patrons weighing more than 350 pounds.
—Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 19 May 2026
His current projects may have a futuristic flavour, but Fotiadis is emphatically against styling gimmicks in superyacht design.
—Dea Jusufi, Forbes.com, 16 May 2026
That focus on results — rather than gimmicks — is a big reason travelers are willing to fly halfway around the world for a facial.
—Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 15 May 2026
In a crowded reusable-bottle market the Maxi doesn’t try to stand apart through visual excess or technical gimmicks.
—New Atlas, 12 May 2026
The three resorts enjoyed expansion and growth throughout the 2010s by utilizing low prices, gimmicks and attractions to lure guests.
—Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 10 May 2026
By contrast, the Republican plan relies on one-off gimmicks and volatile funding schemes that don’t last.
—Keith M. Phaneuf, Hartford Courant, 2 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gimmicks
Noun
-
They are accused of using several ruses to force their way into people’s homes, assaulting unsuspecting residents and holding them hostage for their own money, and demanding access to their crypto accounts.—
Andy Rose,
CNN Money,
14 May 2026
-
Kids will quickly see through her ruses.—
Elise Broach,
New Yorker,
20 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Rather than functioning as stand-alone gadgets, the glasses are designed to extend the apps and services consumers already use through Gemini and Android XR.—
Thomas Waller,
Footwear News,
19 May 2026
-
Too often, modern technologies, like inter-device connectivity and artificial intelligence, are shoehorned into gadgets that would be more intuitive to use, affordable, accessible, and/or durable without them.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
18 May 2026
Noun
-
Analysts have raised concerns about concentration risks in South Korea's stock market, with an overreliance on a small group of companies raising the risk of volatility and vulnerability to geopolitical shocks, including a slowdown in data-center spending.—
Lim Hui Jie,
CNBC,
18 May 2026
-
For a generation of homeowners, China’s housing crisis has shown that even property investment has its risks.—
Chris Lau,
CNN Money,
18 May 2026
Noun
-
The most productive college players do not necessarily make the best pros—football is an endlessly interconnected game, with twenty-two players interacting within complicated strategic schemes, and the quality of collegiate competition varies widely.—
Dan Greene,
New Yorker,
18 May 2026
-
The Institute observed that a UBI program did not necessarily cause inflation; delivery system strength is key; an effective communication strategy is essential; the UBI program should fit within existing schemes; and crises shed light on the gaps in social protection systems.—
Carrie Brandon Elliot,
Forbes.com,
18 May 2026
Noun
-
The incidents involving contact with chains, trailer hitches, poles, and curbs indicate recurring limitations in detecting smaller or irregular obstacles, especially during reversing maneuvers.—
Bojan Stojkovski,
Interesting Engineering,
16 May 2026
-
All three of these Yakima racks use trailer hitches for mounting, rather than suction, roof racks, or your rear door.—
Andrew P. Collins,
The Drive,
13 May 2026
Noun
-
As his tricks progressed, the Young Man felt horrified and confused at the same time.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
20 May 2026
-
From that moment on, people in Cuba have been unable to access El Estornudo except through technological tricks like VPNs and proxies that alter their geolocation.—
Abraham Jiménez Enoa,
The Dial,
19 May 2026
Noun
-
But some are discovering that chasing clout comes with pitfalls.—
Brendan Ruberry,
semafor.com,
19 May 2026
-
Of course, the pitfalls of rooting a soap opera in the world of modern football means your supporting characters are at the mercy of the transfer merry-go-round.—
Jon O'Brien,
IndieWire,
14 May 2026
Noun
-
In the Jobs era, the Apple ecosystem was its biggest competitive advantage — Cook doubled down on it, with all devices working seamlessly together.—
Vitaliy Katsenelson,
Fortune,
14 May 2026
-
Despite their tiny size, the devices delivered some of the strongest efficiencies reported for ultrathin perovskite solar technology.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
14 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Gimmicks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gimmicks. Accessed 24 May. 2026.
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