nickel-and-dime

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 nickel-and-dime The nickel-and-dime crack sales; the tickets for open containers — none of that mattered anymore. Paul Solotaroff, Rolling Stone, 11 May 2025 With a comfy 16-point cushion entering the fourth quarter, though, Adelman turned to Jordan again to nickel-and-dime Jokic a few minutes of rest. Luca Evans, Denver Post, 29 Apr. 2025 That’s caused the run game to fade and forced Patrick Mahomes to lean more into a nickel-and-dime approach. Sam Farmer, Los Angeles Times, 16 Jan. 2025 Much of it has been nickel-and-dime stuff but with some big-name crooks. Rick Kogan, Chicago Tribune, 25 Aug. 2024 Trying to nickel-and-dime such an important player could have done more harm than good. Darnell Mayberry, The Athletic, 1 Aug. 2024 Southwest Airlines, which set itself apart from its nickel-and-dime competitors, will soon scrap its open-seat policy and charge folks for more legroom. Michelle Singletary, Washington Post, 26 July 2024 Love or hate Apple, the company’s nickel-and-dime approach to cables, dongles, and chargers primed people to believe reports like this. Andrew Cunningham, Ars Technica, 14 Sep. 2023 Finally, though, the Bengals didn’t nickel-and-dime a deal to death. Jason Williams, The Enquirer, 8 Sep. 2023
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nickel-and-dime
Adjective
  • Hanson parlayed his small-time criminality into a risky alliance with a powerful Mexican drug lord, intertwining his quest for wealth with the deadly world of organized crime.
    Anthony D'Alessandro, Deadline, 28 Aug. 2025
  • The succor of small-time hubris is what good bake-offs are about—bakers driven only by that elegant, unimpeachable motive, to be the best.
    Ruby Tandoh, New Yorker, 25 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • The newspaper reported at the time that Zinn has a criminal record dating back to 1989 that includes dozens of convictions for petty crimes such as criminal trespass, theft of services, interfering with a police officer and disturbing the peace.
    Khaleda Rahman, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Sep. 2025
  • The petty back-and-forth continued throughout the interview and escalated to the point that Dash threatened to get physical with CTG.
    Michael Saponara, Billboard, 16 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Then, the company would have to prove that its investments have been made largely worthless because of tariffs.
    Preston Fore, Fortune, 11 Sep. 2025
  • Even as tutor modes are refined and improved, students have to actively select that mode and, for now, also have to play along, deftly providing context and guiding the chatbot away from worthless, low-level questions or sycophancy.
    Brian W. Stone, The Conversation, 10 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Nickel-and-dime.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nickel-and-dime. Accessed 21 Sep. 2025.

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