as in fairies
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 gremlins
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
Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 15 Aug. 2025
The popularity of the petite gremlins has spawned fakes.
—Alexis Simendinger, The Hill, 11 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gremlins
Noun
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The lottery fairies have given you more time.—
Enquirer staff,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
18 Aug. 2025
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While the indoor show will be missing the trees and outdoor ambiance, DeLancett and Hayes worked to craft photo ops with mermaids, fairies, wizards and birds of prey.—
Patrick Connolly,
The Orlando Sentinel,
12 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Meanwhile, the virtuous, near-immortal elves of Lothlórien are depicted living peacefully in a realm of lush flora and elaborate tree-houses.—
Ellen Walker,
JSTOR Daily,
3 Sep. 2025
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All of the workers who are playing the elves have either been killed in horrible ways or beheaded, and their heads are used as tree toppers, and their intestines are strung on the Christmas trees.—
Simon Thompson,
Forbes.com,
22 Aug. 2025
Noun
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To some, the creatures that purportedly visited Kelly — about eight miles north of Hopkinsville — became known as goblins.—
Josh Wood,
The Courier-Journal,
6 Aug. 2025
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A lot of the folktales referenced in Rabbit Trap are drawn from this one text from 1880, called British Goblins, from an American anthropologist called Wirt Sikes, who traveled through Wales, collected stories and sightings of goblins and fairies.—
Damon Wise,
Deadline,
31 Jan. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Gremlins.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gremlins. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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