as in fairy
an imaginary being usually having a small human form and magical powers during the World Wars, fighter pilots adopted the fanciful notion that gremlins were responsible for mechanical failures on their planes

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 gremlin The colorful gremlins were often paired with bag charms, Trendalytics said saw 247 percent growth year-over-year. Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 15 Aug. 2025 The popularity of the petite gremlins has spawned fakes. Alexis Simendinger, The Hill, 11 Aug. 2025 With the ability to duplicate and turn into the titular monstrous creatures, the gremlins begin terrorizing Billy’s small town. Glenn Garner, Deadline, 30 July 2025 As mechanized as a race — or a movie — can feel, success or failure hinge on the human element, the hero battling the gremlins in the machine. Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 26 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for gremlin
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gremlin
Noun
  • Her younger sister, meanwhile, was dressed as a purple fairy.
    Ingrid Vasquez, PEOPLE, 1 Nov. 2025
  • And then Justin came in and sprinkled fairy dust on it all.
    Marissa R. Moss, Rolling Stone, 23 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • The hanging fireplace, seemingly lit by house elves, pairs nicely with the gratis bottles of spirits and Chilean wine.
    Laura Dannen Redman, Robb Report, 16 Oct. 2025
  • And all these dwarves and elves and humans go, ‘What?
    Elisabeth Garber-Paul, Rolling Stone, 2 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • The electric vehicle company is rolling out a seasonal theme as a part of its software update that's made for ghouls, goblins and things that go bump in the night.
    Charles Singh, USA Today, 29 Oct. 2025
  • The hunger-desire gleaming in their eyes brought to mind that poem about goblin men selling goblin fruit.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 16 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • After a chance encounter on the road, the cheerful dwarf Zoltan Chivay (Danny Woodburn) combines his crew with Geralt’s.
    Scott Meslow, Vulture, 30 Oct. 2025
  • Additionally, there is Zoltan (Danny Woodburn), the fan-favorite dwarf with some rather thrilling skills, and several others to round out the already expansive cast.
    Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 30 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Gremlin.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gremlin. Accessed 5 Nov. 2025.

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