1
as in ruses
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in gadgets
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 risks
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of gimmicks
The most popular proposals from Congressional Democrats now rely on gimmicks that would do even more harm than good.
—
Ben Ritz,
Forbes.com,
11 June 2026
Republican lawmakers pointed quickly to the report as backing their contention that Newsom and lawmakers have been balancing the budget using accounting gimmicks.
—
Sacbee.com,
19 May 2026
The deficits were papered over with a series of short-term fixes, including loans and accounting gimmicks.
—
Dan Walters,
Mercury News,
19 May 2026
Some of the Heart Attack Grill's most provocative gimmicks included public spankings for customers who failed to finish their meals, plus free food for patrons weighing more than 350 pounds.
—
Andrea Margolis,
FOXNews.com,
19 May 2026
That focus on results — rather than gimmicks — is a big reason travelers are willing to fly halfway around the world for a facial.
—
Hanna Wickes,
Charlotte Observer,
15 May 2026
In a crowded reusable-bottle market the Maxi doesn’t try to stand apart through visual excess or technical gimmicks.
—
New Atlas,
12 May 2026
The three resorts enjoyed expansion and growth throughout the 2010s by utilizing low prices, gimmicks and attractions to lure guests.
—
Andrew J. Campa,
Los Angeles Times,
10 May 2026
By contrast, the Republican plan relies on one-off gimmicks and volatile funding schemes that don’t last.
—
Keith M. Phaneuf,
Hartford Courant,
2 May 2026
Ben Ritz,
Forbes.com,
11 June 2026
Republican lawmakers pointed quickly to the report as backing their contention that Newsom and lawmakers have been balancing the budget using accounting gimmicks.
—
Sacbee.com,
19 May 2026
The deficits were papered over with a series of short-term fixes, including loans and accounting gimmicks.
—
Dan Walters,
Mercury News,
19 May 2026
Some of the Heart Attack Grill's most provocative gimmicks included public spankings for customers who failed to finish their meals, plus free food for patrons weighing more than 350 pounds.
—
Andrea Margolis,
FOXNews.com,
19 May 2026
That focus on results — rather than gimmicks — is a big reason travelers are willing to fly halfway around the world for a facial.
—
Hanna Wickes,
Charlotte Observer,
15 May 2026
In a crowded reusable-bottle market the Maxi doesn’t try to stand apart through visual excess or technical gimmicks.
—
New Atlas,
12 May 2026
The three resorts enjoyed expansion and growth throughout the 2010s by utilizing low prices, gimmicks and attractions to lure guests.
—
Andrew J. Campa,
Los Angeles Times,
10 May 2026
By contrast, the Republican plan relies on one-off gimmicks and volatile funding schemes that don’t last.
—
Keith M. Phaneuf,
Hartford Courant,
2 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gimmicks
Noun
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Such offenders will use all different ruses to distract the victim, such as claiming to be utility workers, tree trimmers, or handymen working on neighbors' houses.
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They are accused of using several ruses to force their way into people’s homes, assaulting unsuspecting residents and holding them hostage for their own money, and demanding access to their crypto accounts.
Noun
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The large-scale furniture and housewares retailer was known for leasing enormous, Costco-like spaces to sell everything from patio furniture to candles, kitchen gadgets and decor.
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Use a tech organizer Loose chargers, cables, and gadgets are easy to misplace during security checks, boarding, and even in-flight, where space is limited.
Noun
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But this should be guided and individualized by the right expert in terms of counseling and determining both the risks and benefits of sports based on the cardiac diagnosis and type of sport engaged in by the athlete.
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And the economic risks of higher inflation and lower consumption as a result of the fuel shortages could not have come at a worse time.
Noun
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Twelve hundred conceptual categories showed up in just 490 papers and nowhere in the formal schemes, clustered in environmental drivers and ecological processes.
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New York officials say the unit is a national leader that targets complex, high-impact corporate schemes, and Attorney General Letitia James vows legal action, calling the cutoff an outrageous political attack.
Noun
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In Houston, some drivers were up to their trailer hitches in lapping waters, while photos from Waco, Texas, showed roadways washed away by the storms.
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Legal glitches and hitches will eventually be found when AI laws are passed without suitable scrutiny and analysis.
Noun
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This month was all about the art choices—and a couple clever tricks, too.
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Consider the four tricks designers keep up their sleeves for this exact situation.
Noun
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In the moments when acknowledging success is exactly what is called for, our brains are busy scanning for pitfalls.
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Here’s what all three dietitians identified as pitfalls of the plan.
Noun
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But none of that has happened, and Hamas rejected a new disarmament proposal in March that would force it to give up its tunnel network as well as rockets, heavy munitions, explosive devices and assault rifles before any Israel withdrawal.
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This one from Amazon is only $36 and can keep your devices charged for up to one week on a single charge.
Cite this Entry
“Gimmicks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gimmicks. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.
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