as in switcheroo
US
a selling method in which a customer is attracted by the advertisement of a low-priced product but then is encouraged to buy a more expensive one
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Recent Examples of bait and switch
Everything was back to normal by the end of the episode, but this was anything but a mere bait and switch.
—
Robert Lea, Space.com, 14 Mar. 2026
The bait and switch approach to attracting customers is both widespread and costly for the American public.
—Boaz Sobrado, Forbes.com, 8 Jan. 2026
Democrats worry there's a chance this option is a bait and switch, Grisales says.
—Brittney Melton, NPR, 3 Oct. 2025
This subtle bait and switch from a national identity crisis to a personal identity crisis is imaginative and, for a time, intriguing, with Gadebois doing some very heavy lifting as the bad guy that means well but, nevertheless, behaves appallingly.
—Damon Wise, Deadline, 28 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bait and switch
Robert Lea, Space.com, 14 Mar. 2026
The bait and switch approach to attracting customers is both widespread and costly for the American public.
—Boaz Sobrado, Forbes.com, 8 Jan. 2026
Democrats worry there's a chance this option is a bait and switch, Grisales says.
—Brittney Melton, NPR, 3 Oct. 2025
This subtle bait and switch from a national identity crisis to a personal identity crisis is imaginative and, for a time, intriguing, with Gadebois doing some very heavy lifting as the bad guy that means well but, nevertheless, behaves appallingly.
—Damon Wise, Deadline, 28 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bait and switch
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bait and switch
Noun
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Since last season, the San Francisco Giants have had a little switcheroo, from poor outfield defense to good, average offense to one projected to be among one of the better lineups in the league, and a strong bullpen to one with question marks.—
Susan Slusser,
San Francisco Chronicle,
23 Mar. 2026
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Sophie has spent so long this season being a role of service, and for Benedict to now be washing her hair and then pleasuring her felt like a really nice switcheroo that Sophie deeply deserved.—
Carly Thomas,
HollywoodReporter,
27 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The Spurs led by as much as 20 in the fourth quarter, which is an incredible turnaround.—
Dan Santaromita,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
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Tatum and Celtics officials have said that quick turnaround accelerated his return to the court.—
Zack Cox,
Boston Herald,
27 Apr. 2026
Noun
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To complete the look, wear the cream and blue-striped pants with a colorful longline tank and some chunky Nike sneakers—or even a pair of flip-flops to combat the heat.—
Merrell Readman,
Travel + Leisure,
27 Apr. 2026
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Parks will be shaped like flip-flops and guitars, with a central activity hub including pools, a fitness center and concert space.—
Scott Lebar. Story produced with AI assistance,
Sacbee.com,
24 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Conservative influencers, among others, blasted the turnabout and questioned Bondi’s capability.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
3 Apr. 2026
-
In a turnabout-is-fair-play moment, a Sparty fan showed during a break of the Wolverines’ game was treated with equal disdain.—
Dana O’Neil,
CNN Money,
20 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The department said the new $450 fee remains well below the government’s actual cost of processing renunciation requests.—
Michael Dorgan,
FOXNews.com,
14 Mar. 2026
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British psychiatrist Humphry Osmond, who took part in a peyote ceremony with a First Nations group the Red Pheasant Band in Saskatchewan, Canada, in 1956, intuited the necessity of community, empathy, and ego renunciation during the psychedelic process.—
Erica Rex,
STAT,
19 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
This volte-face was not just about electoral politics.—
Robert F. Worth,
The Atlantic,
17 Jan. 2026
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The Kremlin has denied any such request was made, which tells you something about how Moscow views the optics of this diplomatic volte-face.—
Bobby Ghosh,
Time,
22 Dec. 2025
Noun
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Subscriptions like Billie cover this for you without a second thought.—
Sabina Wizemann,
Good Housekeeping,
30 Nov. 2022
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In America, the allure of material comfort is accepted without a second thought.—
Sarah Zhang,
The Atlantic,
20 Nov. 2022
Noun
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Alongside its request for a retraction, the SPLC filed a motion asking for grand jury transcripts to make sure false statements weren't used to secure the indictment.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
28 Apr. 2026
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Both crewmembers then focused on the aircraft flight path, and the retraction of the landing gear was inadvertently omitted.—
Gabrielle Rockson,
PEOPLE,
24 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bait and switch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bait%20and%20switch. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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