as in presentation
informal
a fast utterance that someone has often said before and that is usually intended to persuade people to buy something, agree to something, etc.
I listened to the salesman's spiel but still refused to buy anything. He gave me a long spiel about the benefits of joining the club.
Related Words
Relevance
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 spiel
Following his initial spiel, Vitello was told that the initial report didn’t say definitively that the Giants were hiring him — just that the team was close to offering him a job.
—
Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 16 Feb. 2026
Trump opened the session with a lengthy spiel suggesting that the spigots of Venezuelan oil would soon be open, flooding the market with cheap petroleum for the benefit of American taxpayers, Venezuelan citizens and big oil companies.
—Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 12 Jan. 2026
Even as Bankman-Fried was captivating the crypto industry with spiels about his alleged genius, Yan and his team stayed away, preferring to trade on platforms like Coinbase.
—Ben Weiss, Fortune, 12 Jan. 2026
While going on a spiel about the pitfalls of ostracizing family members for voting MAGA, the TV personality pivoted to his personal experience.
—Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 21 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for spiel
Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 16 Feb. 2026
Trump opened the session with a lengthy spiel suggesting that the spigots of Venezuelan oil would soon be open, flooding the market with cheap petroleum for the benefit of American taxpayers, Venezuelan citizens and big oil companies.
—Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 12 Jan. 2026
Even as Bankman-Fried was captivating the crypto industry with spiels about his alleged genius, Yan and his team stayed away, preferring to trade on platforms like Coinbase.
—Ben Weiss, Fortune, 12 Jan. 2026
While going on a spiel about the pitfalls of ostracizing family members for voting MAGA, the TV personality pivoted to his personal experience.
—Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 21 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for spiel
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spiel
Noun
-
According to the presentation, the recommendation was based on the school’s geographic identity, regional recognition, the mascot’s adaptability and age-appropriate appeal, positive stakeholder feedback and long-term branding considerations.—
Nicole Buss,
Sacbee.com,
10 May 2026
-
As part of the presentation, BYD also staged a high-stress safety demonstration in which four battery cells were deliberately short-circuited.—
Bojan Stojkovski,
Interesting Engineering,
10 May 2026
Noun
-
The book also includes a guide for future contestants, covering everything from filming an audition tape to preparing for the island, making fire, blindsiding an opponent and crafting a winning jury speech.—
Anthony Robledo,
USA Today,
6 May 2026
-
Only on rare occasions do popes address foreign legislatures, and the speeches often end up among the most noteworthy of a pontificate.—
Nicole Winfield,
Los Angeles Times,
6 May 2026
Noun
-
On 28 August 1947, Gombrowicz gives a lecture.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
11 May 2026
-
In February 2024, professor Asaf Peer, an Israeli from Bar Ilan University, attempted to give a physics lecture at UNLV.—
Editorial,
Boston Herald,
9 May 2026
Noun
-
The most recent back-and-forth over talks comes after a week of sporadic clashes in the Persian Gulf, amid a month-long ceasefire.—
Karissa Waddick,
USA Today,
11 May 2026
-
Markets have soared and oil prices have dropped over the last week, however, amid anticipation that a deal could be close after weeks of talks and occasional setbacks.—
Peter Nicholas,
NBC news,
10 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Spiel.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spiel. Accessed 14 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
