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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of gimmicks
The most popular proposals from Congressional Democrats now rely on gimmicks that would do even more harm than good.
—
Ben Ritz,
Forbes.com,
11 June 2026
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
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
Ben Ritz,
Forbes.com,
11 June 2026
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
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
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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.
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Kids will quickly see through her ruses.
Noun
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That means all of the cookware, kitchen tools, grilling gadgets, baking accessories, and cleaning supplies on sale will come in handy well before the winter holidays hit.
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Like so many other gadgets, the Nex Playground became a victim of RAMageddon when its price went up in April.
Noun
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As geopolitical competition intensifies, such concentrations pose risks to industries dependent on uninterrupted access to critical materials.
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The company utilizes a development approach that structures projects specifically to limit the initial capital exposure and execution risks faced by its partners.
Noun
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Federal authorities on Tuesday charged 10 Southern California defendants in a series of healthcare fraud schemes, including one case involving nearly $270 million in fraudulent Medi-Cal claims and another that allegedly defrauded Medicare out of approximately $27 million.
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As contemporary home designs fade the visual bounds between interior and exterior, design pros are calling on lighting designers to illuminate their clients’ landscapes, with schemes that provide everything from safety to spectacle.
Noun
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In Houston, some drivers were up to their trailer hitches in lapping waters, while photos from Waco, Texas, showed roadways washed away by the storms.
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Legal glitches and hitches will eventually be found when AI laws are passed without suitable scrutiny and analysis.
Noun
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Yamal’s flicks and tricks in his 45-minute appearance were almost enough to make memories for life, while Oyarzabal should have completed his hat-trick (both players would be substituted at the break).
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Vinícius Júnior’s extensive and varied skill set includes blinding speed, dazzling dribbling tricks, and the ability to effortlessly slip past defenders.
Noun
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Some founders on the second go-around choose to self-fund and avoid the pitfalls of venture capital.
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Other Décor Mistakes While designers agree that a catalog-style room is one of the biggest decorating pitfalls, there are a few other details that can have a similar effect.
Noun
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At one point, Jessie befriends a gang of tech toys that includes a low-tech potty-training product named Smarty Pants, along with GPS and camera devices Atlas and Snappy.
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The suspects arrested allegedly planned to target senior government officials with small, armed drones; no devices were launched.
Cite this Entry
“Gimmicks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gimmicks. Accessed 28 Jun. 2026.
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