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
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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
The soap's sensual marketing theme earned mixed reactions on social media, with some users dubbing it a gimmick and questioning the item's cleanliness.
—
Edward Segarra, USA Today, 13 Sep. 2025
The show, known for its Emmy Award winning costumes, was quick to help conceal Coon’s pregnancy without stooping to TV gimmicks.
—Avalon Hester, PEOPLE, 12 Sep. 2025
The new model opens up to insert a Switch to serve as the screen, but for those who don’t want to drop a ton of cash on a gimmick, there’s a more affordable cardboard cutout facsimile that will also be available.
—Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 12 Sep. 2025
American yams, on the other hand, are merely mislabeled sweet potatoes thanks to a marketing gimmick from the 1930s.
—Joe Sevier, Bon Appetit Magazine, 6 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for gimmick
Edward Segarra, USA Today, 13 Sep. 2025
The show, known for its Emmy Award winning costumes, was quick to help conceal Coon’s pregnancy without stooping to TV gimmicks.
—Avalon Hester, PEOPLE, 12 Sep. 2025
The new model opens up to insert a Switch to serve as the screen, but for those who don’t want to drop a ton of cash on a gimmick, there’s a more affordable cardboard cutout facsimile that will also be available.
—Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 12 Sep. 2025
American yams, on the other hand, are merely mislabeled sweet potatoes thanks to a marketing gimmick from the 1930s.
—Joe Sevier, Bon Appetit Magazine, 6 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for gimmick
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gimmick
Noun
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Police said McGriff employed the ruse to access the couple's Queens residence and then set it ablaze.—
Joshua Rhett Miller,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Sep. 2025
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McGriff allegedly tried the ruse at a nearby house first but was turned away, Tisch said.—
Mark Morales,
CNN Money,
9 Sep. 2025
Noun
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The iconic items fit well in this book given how many Avengers don’t feel complete without a gadget or mystical item to carry into battle.—
Rob Wieland,
Forbes.com,
17 Sep. 2025
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The Arts District Market This store will sell a variety of travel necessities, including tech gadgets and small items.—
Phillip Molnar,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
16 Sep. 2025
Noun
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According to Champion, the wedding went off without a hitch — in no small part because her husband-to-be was very hands-on throughout the planning process.—
Shania Russell,
Entertainment Weekly,
14 Sep. 2025
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The two-door, three-person Can-Am Defender Limited and the four-door, six-person Defender Max Limited have 82-horsepower engines, power steering, tow hitches with a 2,500-pound towing capacity, winches, air conditioning and heating, a full hard roof and a three-position tilt-up glass windshield.—
Steve Waters,
Miami Herald,
12 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Roberts and Robinson, who federal prosecutors say conducted the scheme over the course of five years, between 2018 and 2023, allegedly stole $900,000 from the court system.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
13 Sep. 2025
-
Just look at the offense — more weapons, better scheme, more support.—
Dianna Russini,
New York Times,
13 Sep. 2025
Noun
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The automation tools haven’t put much of a crimp on the 27 million or so of today’s global software engineers who generally do their coding by hand.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
18 Sep. 2025
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To read how Newsweek uses AI as a newsroom tool, click here.—
Thomas Westerholm,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Many have significant reservations about the safety and efficacy of the COVID vaccine, despite assurances from most experts that the benefits outweigh the risks.—
Paul Sisson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
20 Sep. 2025
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But the ground level faces severe flooding risks through a combination of rainstorms and earthquakes that bring soil water to the surface, per a study conducted in 2016 by the San Francisco Bay Conservation & Development Commission.—
Shomik Mukherjee,
Mercury News,
20 Sep. 2025
Noun
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So the real trick was creating a hue with blendability that people were willing to reapply.—
Megan McIntyre,
Allure,
16 Sep. 2025
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The Luray Caverns feel almost magical—complete with musical instruments built into the walls, mirror-like lakes that play tricks on your eyes, and even a wishing well tucked into the underground pathways.—
Alexandra Emanuelli,
Southern Living,
16 Sep. 2025
Noun
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SaaS giants must avoid these pitfalls by channeling resources into green-light augmentation to ensure adoption and trust.—
Wayne Liu,
Forbes.com,
17 Sep. 2025
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But the search continues, and despite all those pitfalls, hospitals and physicians are using unapproved tests that are available to screen patients, often at exorbitant costs.—
Cory Franklin,
Twin Cities,
14 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Gimmick.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gimmick. Accessed 20 Sep. 2025.
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