1
as in ruse
a clever often underhanded means to achieve an end
that free dinner is just a sales gimmick to get you to listen to their sales pitch
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2
as in gadget
an interesting and often novel device with a practical use
a car equipped with a parking spot locator and other neat gimmicks
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in hitch
a danger or difficulty that is hidden or not easily recognized
the deal sounds too good to be true, so make sure there aren't any gimmicks
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of gimmick
Declining to tax tips or overtime or Social Security benefits, compared with reforms of the type that Trump presided over in 2017, are little more than gimmicks.
—
The Editors, National Review, 1 Apr. 2025
Vince McMahon has devised various gimmicks and names for wrestlers while running WWE over the last several decades.
—Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Apr. 2025
Simply put, aside from the desire for some novel gimmick, there was no clear rationale for SpaceX’s mission planners or Fram2’s leader, cryptocurrency billionaire Chun Wang, to have chosen a polar orbit in the first place.
—Lee Billings, Scientific American, 31 Mar. 2025
It’s become a huge, surprise hit in 2025, one that no one saw coming, and one that easily could have gone wrong in a world of forgettable medical dramas and with a 24-like gimmick that may not have landed.
—Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 6 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for gimmick
The Editors, National Review, 1 Apr. 2025
Vince McMahon has devised various gimmicks and names for wrestlers while running WWE over the last several decades.
—Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Apr. 2025
Simply put, aside from the desire for some novel gimmick, there was no clear rationale for SpaceX’s mission planners or Fram2’s leader, cryptocurrency billionaire Chun Wang, to have chosen a polar orbit in the first place.
—Lee Billings, Scientific American, 31 Mar. 2025
It’s become a huge, surprise hit in 2025, one that no one saw coming, and one that easily could have gone wrong in a world of forgettable medical dramas and with a 24-like gimmick that may not have landed.
—Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 6 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for gimmick
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gimmick
Noun
-
Richie buys Harry's ruse regarding Tommy's murder, but there's a catch.—
Matt Cabral,
EW.com,
20 Apr. 2025
-
The wedding started as an elaborate three-way ruse concocted by Wai-Tung, a gay Taiwanese American man; his white boyfriend, Simon (Mitchell Lichtenstein); and Wei-Wei, an undocumented Chinese immigrant.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
19 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Avoid piling clothes, gadgets or paperwork around your bed.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
25 Apr. 2025
-
Mainstream gadgets getting elusive Even people with broader, more mainstream tech interests see tariffs impacting their options.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
25 Apr. 2025
Noun
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The proposal goes off without a hitch as the two boys watch on.—
Angela Andaloro,
People.com,
25 Apr. 2025
-
Her feed cut out a few times during the song's first verse, then continued without a hitch through the chorus.—
Wesley Stenzel,
EW.com,
19 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Nearly 30 years ago California legislators faced a test of their integrity in voting for an electricity deregulation scheme that ratepayers are still paying for.—
Jamie Court,
Mercury News,
19 Apr. 2025
-
And perhaps the most frustrating and ironic aspect about these potential cuts is that in the scheme of the U.S. government’s overall budget, Mars gets much more of the planetary science budget than Venus.—
Bruce Dorminey,
Forbes.com,
18 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Their conversation with Frost helped alter the public perception of meditation from a niche spiritual pursuit into a practical tool for personal growth.—
Jordan Runtagh,
People.com,
26 Apr. 2025
-
This capability—combined with tools like protein folding simulations—has opened the door to faster, more efficient drug development pipelines.—
Tomoko Yokoi,
Forbes.com,
26 Apr. 2025
Noun
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This enables enterprises to select trustworthy models, enforce AI risk policies, and respond to emerging threats in real time.—
Dasha Shunina,
Forbes.com,
24 Apr. 2025
-
Rain could aid firefighting efforts and saturate dry fuels, reducing their risk of igniting in the future.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
The company, which sells hot and iced coffee, tea, shakes, as well as burritos and tacos, also hosts classes to teach dogs tricks.—
Saleen Martin,
USA Today,
25 Apr. 2025
-
Dimbleby’s age, far from a liability, feels like a magic trick—rare is the podcast host in 2025 who can casually weave socioeconomics together with personal memories of the Second World War.—
Sarah Larson,
New Yorker,
24 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Acton Academy’s growth to over 300 schools showcases the potential for replication but also highlights the pitfalls of decentralized management.—
Ray Ravaglia,
Forbes.com,
24 Apr. 2025
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Right off the bat, Expedition 33 avoids the common pitfall of assigning moves to magic point (MP) values; In most JRPGs, special attacks typically consume MP, and running out means characters are relegated to just doing normal attacks, which can make battles feel dry or lopsided.—
George Yang,
Rolling Stone,
23 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Gimmick.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gimmick. Accessed 1 May. 2025.
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