as in ruse
a clever often underhanded means to achieve an end
The seemingly benign questioning was all just a gambit to get them to fess up to their wrongdoing.
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Recent Examples of gambit
The typical Springfield gambit of waiting until the eleventh hour to spring controversial initiatives on the public in order to keep determined opposition from forming backfired spectacularly.
—
The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 3 June 2025
Deal making has mostly stalled under President Trump, as his tariff gambit continues to stoke economic uncertainty, but health care mergers and acquisitions have stayed active.
—Andrew Ross Sorkin, New York Times, 19 May 2025
The question with such a gambit would be whether there would be a market for Johnson, based on his limited 2024-25 sample, for a standard contract elsewhere.
—Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 22 June 2025
President Donald Trump said Saturday that the U.S. military struck three sites in Iran, directly joining Israel’s effort to decapitate the country’s nuclear program in a risky gambit to weaken a longtime foe amid Tehran’s threat of reprisals that could spark a wider regional conflict.
—Aamer Madhani, Christian Science Monitor, 22 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for gambit
The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 3 June 2025
Deal making has mostly stalled under President Trump, as his tariff gambit continues to stoke economic uncertainty, but health care mergers and acquisitions have stayed active.
—Andrew Ross Sorkin, New York Times, 19 May 2025
The question with such a gambit would be whether there would be a market for Johnson, based on his limited 2024-25 sample, for a standard contract elsewhere.
—Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 22 June 2025
President Donald Trump said Saturday that the U.S. military struck three sites in Iran, directly joining Israel’s effort to decapitate the country’s nuclear program in a risky gambit to weaken a longtime foe amid Tehran’s threat of reprisals that could spark a wider regional conflict.
—Aamer Madhani, Christian Science Monitor, 22 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for gambit
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gambit
Noun
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The scammers could also use your account to scam others out of money with the same verification ruse for passengers and drivers.—
Suzanne Blake,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 July 2025
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The elaborate ruse was likely an effort to steal cryptocurrency, which Lazarus has become known for.—
Michael Kan,
PC Magazine,
19 June 2025
Noun
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Two sources told Reuters he was suspected of being involved in a scheme to embezzle millions of dollars earmarked for border defenses.—
Clare Sebastian,
CNN Money,
11 July 2025
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In the film, Superman comes under suspicion by the public and the government over his Kryptonian heritage thanks to a scheme by tech billionaire Luthor to push Superman out of the way of his grand plans to expand his criminal enterprise worldwide.—
Tim Lammers,
Forbes.com,
11 July 2025
Noun
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One trick to capture slugs is to lay a board down next to a row crop and check the underside in the morning to gather the slugs.—
Tom MacCubbin,
The Orlando Sentinel,
5 July 2025
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Truth is, finding universal tips and tricks for keeping your cortisol levels stable first thing in the morning and when leaving the house is tough.—
Ana Morales,
Vogue,
5 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Gambit.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gambit. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.
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