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
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Recent Examples of gremlin
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
If there are a number of cautions on Sunday, don’t be surprised if some teams begin to fight mechanical gremlins.
—Jeff Gluck, New York Times, 14 June 2025
The good news is, the inner critic, like a gremlin, is tameable.
—Sohee Jun, Forbes.com, 19 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for gremlin
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
If there are a number of cautions on Sunday, don’t be surprised if some teams begin to fight mechanical gremlins.
—Jeff Gluck, New York Times, 14 June 2025
The good news is, the inner critic, like a gremlin, is tameable.
—Sohee Jun, Forbes.com, 19 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for gremlin
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gremlin
Noun
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Various cultures interpreted the ephemeral aberrations as fairies, ghosts or spirits.—
Rachel Nuwer,
Scientific American,
29 Sep. 2025
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On the Blumarine spring 2026 runway in Milan on Friday, models tapped into their inner bohemian-fairy party girl personas with charcoal eyeliner smudged around their eyes, faded hues on their lips and tired waves in their hair.—
Kaleigh Werner,
Footwear News,
26 Sep. 2025
Noun
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The special will be made available on Disney+ the following day, and the elves will head to ABC’s shelves later in the season.—
Tony Maglio,
HollywoodReporter,
23 Sep. 2025
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Falling on Santa’s Naughty or Nice list used to be a call made by Santa and his elves.—
Rebecca Angel Baer,
Southern Living,
17 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Popping in for story time and serving goblin snacks on holidays kept me tethered to my clingy girl.—
Nancy Prentice,
MSNBC Newsweek,
27 Sep. 2025
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Some say the cave system would have connected the goblins from Hopkinsville to Hellier.—
Marina Johnson,
Louisville Courier Journal,
18 Sep. 2025
Noun
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These two dwarf galaxies orbit the Milky Way at distances of 163,000 and 200,000 light-years, respectively, moving through our galaxy's outer halo of hot gas not too dissimilar, but on a much smaller scale, from the Virgo Cluster's halo of hot gas.—
Keith Cooper,
Space.com,
25 Sep. 2025
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While some amaranth varieties, like the colorful ‘Burgundy Amaranth,’ are too tall for most planters, dwarf amaranths like ‘Globe Amaranth’ or ‘Pygmy’s Torch’ are the perfect size for pots.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
23 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Gremlin.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gremlin. Accessed 2 Oct. 2025.
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