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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of gimmicks
No over-the-top marketing gimmicks.
—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 Mar. 2026
There’s no gimmicks or bells and whistles to this story.
—Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 11 Mar. 2026
There really is no Zero-SP path and few structural gimmicks.
—Michael Salfino, New York Times, 11 Mar. 2026
The whole night seemed driven by gimmicks more than a clear or coherent message, and was devoid of any new policy ideas that would be obvious wins for GOP lawmakers.
—Philip Elliott, Time, 25 Feb. 2026
No gimmicks, just fashion at face value.
—José Criales-Unzueta, Vanity Fair, 19 Feb. 2026
Forget about sonic devices, scare devices or other gimmicks.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 15 Feb. 2026
There are no gimmicks, there’s no learning curve.
—James Raia, Mercury News, 8 Feb. 2026
No gimmicks, no nonsense, straight shooter, the woman who gets things done.
—Seema Mehta, Los Angeles Times, 4 Feb. 2026
Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 Mar. 2026
There’s no gimmicks or bells and whistles to this story.
—Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 11 Mar. 2026
There really is no Zero-SP path and few structural gimmicks.
—Michael Salfino, New York Times, 11 Mar. 2026
The whole night seemed driven by gimmicks more than a clear or coherent message, and was devoid of any new policy ideas that would be obvious wins for GOP lawmakers.
—Philip Elliott, Time, 25 Feb. 2026
No gimmicks, just fashion at face value.
—José Criales-Unzueta, Vanity Fair, 19 Feb. 2026
Forget about sonic devices, scare devices or other gimmicks.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 15 Feb. 2026
There are no gimmicks, there’s no learning curve.
—James Raia, Mercury News, 8 Feb. 2026
No gimmicks, no nonsense, straight shooter, the woman who gets things done.
—Seema Mehta, Los Angeles Times, 4 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gimmicks
Noun
-
The New York Colored American reported that some offers of short-term work for Black men — moving livestock to or from Kentucky, for example — were ruses that ended with kidnappings.—
Equal Justice Initiative,
USA Today,
6 Nov. 2025
-
Many suspect a spam call and don't pick up the phone, leading foundation staff to sometimes devise ruses.—
Kelly Meyerhofer,
jsonline.com,
8 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Top sellers of Amazon’s biggest clearance sale Amazon’s Big Spring Sale has been a massive success for online shoppers seeking deep discounts on everything from kitchen appliances and skincare products to DIY tools and tech gadgets.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Apple would go on to revolutionize the tech industry, creating innovative, intuitive and beautiful gadgets billions of people would buy again and again.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The phrase was originally associated with Sutskever, who used it to caution his colleagues about the risks of artificial general intelligence—the threshold at which machines match human cognitive capacities.—
Ronan Farrow,
New Yorker,
6 Apr. 2026
-
Blue Lagoon Cruises said pumpable fuel as well as other oils stored onboard the ship had been removed by Monday, diminishing environmental risks.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
6 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Over the past decade, United States Attorney’s Offices in New York City, Boston and Philadelphia have charged dozens of individuals in corruption and fraud schemes involving college coaches, players and athletic department personnel.—
Robert L. Boone,
Sportico.com,
31 Mar. 2026
-
The company described cargo theft as a growing issue marked by increasing sophistication in the schemes used by criminals.—
Hanna Wickes,
Kansas City Star,
30 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
But her journey hasn’t been without a few hitches.—
Aaron Tolentino,
New York Times,
11 Feb. 2026
-
The draft horse shows this week during the stock show’s 120th anniversary will include 15 six-horse hitches, or six horses pulling a wagon.—
Judith Kohler,
Denver Post,
24 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Tiffany has a few tricks up its sleeve that aren’t jewelry or limited-edition chronograph, one of which is this shapely teapot.—
Nicole Hoey,
Robb Report,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Maybe the tricks learned during this trial can help drivers form some better, cheaper habits to continue when gas prices inevitably decrease again.—
Doug Turnbull,
AJC.com,
29 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
But today, their company Lehman Brothers — which catastrophically collapsed in bankruptcy in 2008 — is remembered as a textbook case for the pitfalls of unchecked greed, corruption and moral bankruptcy.—
Pam Kragen,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
29 Mar. 2026
-
Others joked about the pitfalls of staying too close to home.—
Lydia Patrick,
MSNBC Newsweek,
29 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
During the Apollo missions, astronauts used urine collection and transfer devices, as well as plastic bags taped to the buttocks to collect feces.—
ByMary Kekatos,
ABC News,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Our bill will ban the federal government from buying and operating these devices made in countries that wish us harm.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
2 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Gimmicks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gimmicks. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
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