Definition of gremlinnext
as in fairy
an imaginary being usually having a small human form and magical powers during the World Wars, fighter pilots adopted the fanciful notion that gremlins were responsible for mechanical failures on their planes

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of gremlin Don’t let fear of your inner gremlins stop you from self-work to uplevel your life. Tribune Content Agency, Baltimore Sun, 23 Jan. 2026 Don’t let fear of your inner gremlins stop you from self-work to level up your life. Magi Helena, Dallas Morning News, 23 Jan. 2026 Not like a law breaker; more like a gremlin. Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 17 Jan. 2026 Of course, chaos ensues when those rules are broken, unleashing a horde of mischievous, destructive gremlins on his small town. Lauryn Higgins, Parents, 22 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for gremlin
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gremlin
Noun
  • Indulge in a little whimsy with this manicure that’s fit for a garden fairy.
    Ariel Wodarcyk, InStyle, 23 June 2026
  • Meander through a lush, fairy-worthy tapestry of ivy and narrow pathways forged throughout the B&B's history.
    Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 23 June 2026
Noun
  • Ferrell starred as Buddy in the 2003 Christmas classic, which focused on a human adopted by elves and raised as an elf in the North Pole until one day, as an adult, discovering his true identity.
    Virginia Chamlee, PEOPLE, 1 July 2026
  • At the end of 2005-2006, a whole host of elves got arrested and were sent to prison.
    Fiction Non Fiction, Literary Hub, 25 June 2026
Noun
  • Two years ago, the Man City phenom appeared in a 90-second spot for the game that saw him get recruited to storm a castle teeming with goblins, dragons and impish skeletons.
    Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 26 June 2026
  • Follow the babe with the power into Jim Henson’s gloriously weird fantasy wonderland, where goblins sing, doors argue, and David Bowie’s Goblin King serves enough glam-rock charisma to power an entire kingdom.
    Arushi Jacob, Variety, 24 June 2026
Noun
  • For pots, look for dwarf zinnia varieties that won’t require staking.
    Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 1 July 2026
  • As virality goes, this is not a big number, but the passion that the account has aroused dwarfs its reach.
    David Kamp, New Yorker, 29 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Gremlin.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gremlin. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.

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