as in switcheroo
US
a selling method in which a customer is attracted by the advertisement of a low-priced product but then is encouraged to buy a more expensive one
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Recent Examples of bait and switch
But in classic O’Brien fashion, the sincerity turned out to be a bait and switch that gave rise to a bit of absurdist flight of fancy.
—
Hershal Pandya, Vulture, 16 Mar. 2026
Everything was back to normal by the end of the episode, but this was anything but a mere bait and switch.
—Robert Lea, Space.com, 14 Mar. 2026
Democrats worry there's a chance this option is a bait and switch, Grisales says.
—Brittney Melton, NPR, 3 Oct. 2025
This subtle bait and switch from a national identity crisis to a personal identity crisis is imaginative and, for a time, intriguing, with Gadebois doing some very heavy lifting as the bad guy that means well but, nevertheless, behaves appallingly.
—Damon Wise, Deadline, 28 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bait and switch
Hershal Pandya, Vulture, 16 Mar. 2026
Everything was back to normal by the end of the episode, but this was anything but a mere bait and switch.
—Robert Lea, Space.com, 14 Mar. 2026
Democrats worry there's a chance this option is a bait and switch, Grisales says.
—Brittney Melton, NPR, 3 Oct. 2025
This subtle bait and switch from a national identity crisis to a personal identity crisis is imaginative and, for a time, intriguing, with Gadebois doing some very heavy lifting as the bad guy that means well but, nevertheless, behaves appallingly.
—Damon Wise, Deadline, 28 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bait and switch
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bait and switch
Noun
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Scrubs stars Donald Faison and Sarah Chalke pulled a little switcheroo and posed with Tom Hiddleston.—
Breanne L. Heldman,
PEOPLE,
13 May 2026
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Since last season, the San Francisco Giants have had a little switcheroo, from poor outfield defense to good, average offense to one projected to be among one of the better lineups in the league, and a strong bullpen to one with question marks.—
Susan Slusser,
San Francisco Chronicle,
23 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Although adept at large-volume production, the garment-maker is responding to sourcing strategy shifts, as brands seek out faster turnarounds and closer collaboration with their suppliers.—
Fairchild Studio,
Footwear News,
18 May 2026
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The stunning turnaround season for the Detroit Pistons ended Sunday night with a harsh reminder of how difficult the final step can be.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
18 May 2026
Noun
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Designers continue to emulate the drama and volume of fur with plastic or plant-based alternatives, stoking desire for the aesthetic, and consumers continue to flip-flop over whether or not fur is acceptable.—
Bella Webb,
Vogue,
18 May 2026
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Pair your flip-flops with dressy staples—think a boho blouse and a sweater wrapped around your waist or shoulders—and keep things grounded with trendy wide-leg jeans.—
India Roby,
Glamour,
18 May 2026
Noun
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The biggest factors contributing to the slight turnabout were patient centricity — which refers to prioritizing patient needs — and ensuring patient safety, according to PatientView, a research firm that canvassed patient groups from 35 countries between December 2025 and March 2026.—
Ed Silverman,
STAT,
5 May 2026
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Conservative influencers, among others, blasted the turnabout and questioned Bondi’s capability.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
3 Apr. 2026
Noun
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This was the start of my genuine renunciation.—
Angela Andaloro,
PEOPLE,
4 May 2026
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The department said the new $450 fee remains well below the government’s actual cost of processing renunciation requests.—
Michael Dorgan,
FOXNews.com,
14 Mar. 2026
Noun
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This volte-face was not just about electoral politics.—
Robert F. Worth,
The Atlantic,
17 Jan. 2026
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The Kremlin has denied any such request was made, which tells you something about how Moscow views the optics of this diplomatic volte-face.—
Bobby Ghosh,
Time,
22 Dec. 2025
Noun
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Subscriptions like Billie cover this for you without a second thought.—
Sabina Wizemann,
Good Housekeeping,
30 Nov. 2022
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In America, the allure of material comfort is accepted without a second thought.—
Sarah Zhang,
The Atlantic,
20 Nov. 2022
Noun
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Winter 2026 matched the frigid relationship between Japan and China as there was a significant retraction in the series following Prime Minister Takaichi’s statement about Taiwan in November 2025.—
Kalai Chik,
Forbes.com,
15 May 2026
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Continue reading … STANDING FIRM — New York Times defends controversial anti-Israel piece, 'no truth' to retraction claims.—
,
FOXNews.com,
13 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bait and switch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bait%20and%20switch. Accessed 23 May. 2026.
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