Synonyms for gambit

Most common

ploy · stratagem

All synonyms

Noun

Definitions

1. n. 1

   An opening in chess in which material is sacrificed to gain an advantage.

   Her clever gambit gave her an advantage.

Forms

Plural

gambits → ploys, stratagems, tricks…

Example sentences

• ploy Tom's ploy almost succeeded.
• stratagem The enemy somehow got word of the stratagem.

Popularity over time

Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.

By length

4 letters

ploy¹

5 letters

trick¹

9 letters

stratagem³

The small number after each word is its number of syllables (stratagem³ = 3 syllables).