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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show current usage.
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Recent Examples of gimmicks
To commemorate the spirit of this history, Nugget is doing monthly giveaways, harkening back to these gimmicks.
—
Sean Timberlake, Sacbee.com, 15 Apr. 2026
The need for all these gimmicks is something that Margo didn’t initially realize.
—Jennifer Wilson, New Yorker, 12 Apr. 2026
And the camera angles are almost always great without gimmicks or bad cutaways.
—Zach Harper, New York Times, 11 Apr. 2026
Of all the major sports, baseball boasts the one All-Star Game that has largely resisted gimmicks, but then again last year’s game ended with a home run derby.
—Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2026
Garcia doesn’t use gimmicks to get the dog’s attention.
—Mindy Schauer, Oc Register, 8 Apr. 2026
Some critics dismissed Nolan’s clever narrative structure and final twist as mere gimmicks.
—ArsTechnica, 6 Apr. 2026
No maritime theming or kitschy gimmicks, just serene, sophisticated spaces for gathering.
—Katie Riley, Southern Living, 6 Apr. 2026
There’s no gimmicks or bells and whistles to this story.
—Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 11 Mar. 2026
Sean Timberlake, Sacbee.com, 15 Apr. 2026
The need for all these gimmicks is something that Margo didn’t initially realize.
—Jennifer Wilson, New Yorker, 12 Apr. 2026
And the camera angles are almost always great without gimmicks or bad cutaways.
—Zach Harper, New York Times, 11 Apr. 2026
Of all the major sports, baseball boasts the one All-Star Game that has largely resisted gimmicks, but then again last year’s game ended with a home run derby.
—Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2026
Garcia doesn’t use gimmicks to get the dog’s attention.
—Mindy Schauer, Oc Register, 8 Apr. 2026
Some critics dismissed Nolan’s clever narrative structure and final twist as mere gimmicks.
—ArsTechnica, 6 Apr. 2026
No maritime theming or kitschy gimmicks, just serene, sophisticated spaces for gathering.
—Katie Riley, Southern Living, 6 Apr. 2026
There’s no gimmicks or bells and whistles to this story.
—Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 11 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gimmicks
Noun
-
Kids will quickly see through her ruses.—
Elise Broach,
New Yorker,
20 Apr. 2026
-
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
Noun
-
Best Travel Tech Deals Buying new travel tech doesn’t have to be expensive—Amazon has amazing deals on gadgets that are guaranteed to make your next trip easier.—
Caroline Hughes,
Travel + Leisure,
26 Apr. 2026
-
Snap up these nifty gadgets ahead of Mother’s Day or to treat your kitchen to a proper upgrade.—
Clara McMahon,
PEOPLE,
26 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Experts like Hofflinger question whether local building standards are sufficient or thoroughly enforced enough to prevent fire risks.—
Stefano Pozzebon,
CNN Money,
26 Apr. 2026
-
Studies have linked prolonged exposure to ionizing radiation from radioactive fallout to elevated risks of disease, most notably leukemia and thyroid cancer, particularly among children.—
Georgina Jedikovska,
Interesting Engineering,
26 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
With one year left and her throne on the line, Queen Mo — who is 39 — and her raven sidekick JoJo hatch increasingly desperate schemes.—
Todd Spangler,
Variety,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Vrabel is truly an expert in NFL defensive schemes AND finding the way to a woman's heart.—
Amber Harding OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
28 Apr. 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
-
Davis occasionally destabilizes this very familiar soundtrack with sly production tricks from Horne.—
Emma Madden,
Pitchfork,
28 Apr. 2026
-
However, deer are adaptable creatures and often get used to the tricks put in their path, eventually ignoring attempts to deter them, Walke says.—
SJ McShane,
Martha Stewart,
26 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Know More Other Republicans are contemplating going their own way to push for ballroom funding, which has its own pitfalls.—
Burgess Everett,
semafor.com,
27 Apr. 2026
-
While their experience shows the pitfalls of fighting against an unprecedented legal effort, this is also a story about the lengths a couple will go to fight for their love.—
Elizabeth Hernandez,
Denver Post,
26 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Sometimes the batteries on the trackers would run low, and McGovern’s team would need to remove and recharge the devices, before surreptitiously replacing them.—
Ed Caesar,
New Yorker,
30 Apr. 2026
-
In 2021, a critical vulnerability in Log4j—a logging library maintained by a handful of volunteers—exposed hundreds of millions of devices.—
Evan Johnson,
IEEE Spectrum,
30 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Gimmicks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gimmicks. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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