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
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Recent Examples of gremlin
Don’t let fear of your inner gremlins stop you from self-work to level up your life.
—
Magi Helena, Dallas Morning News, 23 Jan. 2026
Not like a law breaker; more like a gremlin.
—Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 17 Jan. 2026
Of course, chaos ensues when those rules are broken, unleashing a horde of mischievous, destructive gremlins on his small town.
—Lauryn Higgins, Parents, 22 Dec. 2025
Almost like a gremlin, the same creature that appears small and tiny then molts its skin and then becomes huge.
—Adam B. Vary, Variety, 10 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for gremlin
Magi Helena, Dallas Morning News, 23 Jan. 2026
Not like a law breaker; more like a gremlin.
—Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 17 Jan. 2026
Of course, chaos ensues when those rules are broken, unleashing a horde of mischievous, destructive gremlins on his small town.
—Lauryn Higgins, Parents, 22 Dec. 2025
Almost like a gremlin, the same creature that appears small and tiny then molts its skin and then becomes huge.
—Adam B. Vary, Variety, 10 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for gremlin
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gremlin
Noun
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Tiny fairy lights are especially susceptible to breaking.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
2 June 2026
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It’s liberally dotted with the designer’s personal collection of art and antiques, but still manages to feel pared-back—as if a Scandinavian fairy came down and waved all the potential clutter away.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 June 2026
Noun
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The new version will still have the traditional arrow counting down the days to the holiday but also will include moving elves who are helping prepare things for Christmas.—
Sal Pizarro,
Mercury News,
30 May 2026
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There’s also caviar and cookies and Christmas trees and Housewives and Bravolebrities, all surrounded by twink elves in Christmas G-strings.—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
4 May 2026
Noun
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An odd couple—one a goblin squeezed into an improbable trench-coat onesie, a fedora, and high heels—promenades down a steep incline while other strollers come and go.—
Jeremy Lybarger,
Artforum,
2 June 2026
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OpenAI leaned into the curious habit, choosing to highlight the goblin-forbidding prompt in a tweet.—
Frank Landymore,
Futurism,
30 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Clues from smaller galaxies To help resolve this mystery, researchers also study much smaller systems, known as dwarf galaxies, which orbit the Milky Way.—
Christopher Karwin,
The Conversation,
8 June 2026
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Until then, the two dwarf galaxy siblings will stick together, even if the big brother does continue to pick on the little one.—
Keith Cooper,
Space.com,
7 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Gremlin.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gremlin. Accessed 12 Jun. 2026.
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