as in ruse
a clever often underhanded means to achieve an end
I couldn't tell whether her earlier poor-mouthing had been sincere or just a gambit to get me to pick up the dinner check
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Recent Examples of gambit
The cease-fire, announced as lasting 30 hours, appeared to be a gambit by Putin to show the U.S. that Russia was serious about peace.
—
Justin Porter, New York Times, 21 Apr. 2025
The tightrope metaphor can feel goofy and schematic, but there’s also the excitement of tracking the unfurling of a grand statement, and the frisson of wondering whether McCann’s gambit (like Petit’s) will succeed.
—Katy Waldman, New Yorker, 19 May 2025
The gambit has often begun with DOGE staffers accessing an agency's offices — in some cases clashing with employees — followed by mass job cuts.
—Joe Walsh, CBS News, 29 Apr. 2025
That gambit was talked about a lot leading up to the draft.
—Charlotte Carroll, New York Times, 27 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for gambit
Justin Porter, New York Times, 21 Apr. 2025
The tightrope metaphor can feel goofy and schematic, but there’s also the excitement of tracking the unfurling of a grand statement, and the frisson of wondering whether McCann’s gambit (like Petit’s) will succeed.
—Katy Waldman, New Yorker, 19 May 2025
The gambit has often begun with DOGE staffers accessing an agency's offices — in some cases clashing with employees — followed by mass job cuts.
—Joe Walsh, CBS News, 29 Apr. 2025
That gambit was talked about a lot leading up to the draft.
—Charlotte Carroll, New York Times, 27 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for gambit
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gambit
Noun
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The Republicans’ billionaire populism has always been a ruse.—
Jim Miller,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
5 June 2025
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When Jonny and Dan were alone at camp, the two friends revealed that the entire story was a ruse!—
Nick Caruso,
TVLine,
30 May 2025
Noun
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At the end of February, a pedestrian was hit in West London by an ebike rider in West London — not a rental or sharing scheme, to be clear — and died after a month in hospital.—
Nicole Kobie,
Forbes.com,
6 June 2025
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Though details of how the gambling operation functioned have not been released, HSI Tampa said in its post the scheme generated more than $21.6 million in illicit proceeds.—
Cristóbal Reyes,
The Orlando Sentinel,
5 June 2025
Noun
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However, there is a trick for using both of these operations together.—
Paul Smith-Goodson,
Forbes.com,
10 June 2025
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Or is that all part of a deeper trick, a wilder swing?—
Kate Erbland,
IndieWire,
9 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Gambit.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gambit. Accessed 14 Jun. 2025.
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