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
In 1940, to promote the sale of gas ranges, local merchants held cooking demonstrations at the utility’s office there, and The Bee ran a photo of a 280-pound cake on display as a promotional gimmick by the Gas Appliance Society of California.
—
Sacbee.com, 16 Jan. 2026
Taxpayers should not be footing the bill for gimmicks that have nothing to do with health.
—Wolfgang Klietmann, Boston Herald, 16 Jan. 2026
And with a big picture of relentless offense and scoring at the moment, the approach seems to be to limit what some had considered gimmick points.
—Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 15 Jan. 2026
The night will double as a baby shower celebration, a rare merging of music, family, and community that feels less like a concert gimmick and more like a milestone shared in real time.
—Holly Alvarado, Daily News, 14 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for gimmick
Sacbee.com, 16 Jan. 2026
Taxpayers should not be footing the bill for gimmicks that have nothing to do with health.
—Wolfgang Klietmann, Boston Herald, 16 Jan. 2026
And with a big picture of relentless offense and scoring at the moment, the approach seems to be to limit what some had considered gimmick points.
—Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 15 Jan. 2026
The night will double as a baby shower celebration, a rare merging of music, family, and community that feels less like a concert gimmick and more like a milestone shared in real time.
—Holly Alvarado, Daily News, 14 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for gimmick
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gimmick
Noun
-
Seth Rollins has been out with a legitimate injury, but after his ruse to win at SummerSlam, anything is possible with him.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
30 Jan. 2026
-
Federal agents are currently roaming cities under the ruse of going after murderers and rapists but are instead pulling anyone who doesn't fit their idea of what an American looks like out of cars, homes and schools using thuggish methods.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
22 Jan. 2026
Noun
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His take on smart glasses isn't typical consumer gadgets from past tech flops, but advanced industrial AR glasses that offer real-time guidance, safety alerts and operational insights directly in a worker's field of view.—
Sarwant Singh,
Forbes.com,
26 Jan. 2026
-
Plus, score beauty gems like a Prada Eau de Parfum and a viral K-beauty skin care gadget.—
Kyra Surgent,
InStyle,
26 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
For a new resort that has both a busy beach club and a more private guests-only aspect, the service goes off without a hitch.—
Todd Plummer,
Condé Nast Traveler,
30 Jan. 2026
-
But his manipulation skills are amateurish at best, and the fact that almost all of his plans go off without a hitch is pretty far-fetched.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Monica Cannon-Grant, 44, pleaded guilty in September 2025 to 18 of 27 counts, including wire fraud, mail fraud and failing to file tax returns related to a scheme in which Cannon-Grant and her late husband, Clark Grant, pocketed thousands of dollars in donations to their nonprofit.—
Louis Casiano,
FOXNews.com,
30 Jan. 2026
-
The lawsuit alleges that pharmacy benefit managers and insulin manufacturers created and participated in a pricing scheme that led to an increase in the price of insulin and increased profits.—
Kyle Werner,
Des Moines Register,
30 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Together, these tools create a more streamlined, precise, and safer approach to the repetitive and high-volume tasks common in large-scale data center projects.—
Bojan Stojkovski,
Interesting Engineering,
1 Feb. 2026
-
In Mendonça’s work, memory functions as a tool of defiance.—
Stephania Taladrid,
New Yorker,
1 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
For example, states would be required to have agreements with the attorney general's office to share information about potential voter fraud or risk losing federal election funds in 2026.—
LISA MASCARO THE ASSOCIATED PRESS,
Arkansas Online,
30 Jan. 2026
-
The results noted a significant increase in risk of major cardiovascular events, including a 29% higher likelihood of heart attack, 20% higher risk of stroke and twice the chances of cardiovascular death.—
Melissa Rudy,
FOXNews.com,
30 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
So much grunt routes through a trick all-wheel-drive system that actually uses a two-speed gearbox ahead of the engine between the front wheels, in addition to a more traditional eight-speed dual-clutch transaxle routing power to the rears.—
Michael Teo Van Runkle,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
-
Our mother figures and friends can serve as the best sources of inspiration for beauty tips and tricks, thanks to many years of trial and error.—
Kaitlyn Yarborough,
Southern Living,
29 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Advertisement That’s not to say the show escapes every Marvel (and particularly Disney-Marvel) pitfall.—
Judy Berman,
Time,
26 Jan. 2026
-
This necessitates a reassessment of the stock's valuation to determine whether this represents an opportunity or a pitfall.—
Trefis Team,
Forbes.com,
26 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Gimmick.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gimmick. Accessed 4 Feb. 2026.
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