gambit

noun

a chess move early in the game in which the player sacrifices minor pieces in order to obtain an advantageous position

a maneuver in a game or conversation

an opening remark intended to secure an advantage for the speaker

Roots

gambagamb- · Italian · leg

Synonyms for gambit

ployn stratagemn rusen tacticn strategyn subterfugen gimmickn maneuvern trickn feintn

Synonyms & related words for gambit

Find synonyms, related words, and the definition of gambit — including ploy, stratagem, ruse, tactic, strategy, subterfuge. Dendril is a free visual thesaurus that shows them on an interactive map where stronger matches sit closer to the center — no signup, no ads.

Words related to gambit

Explore words related to gambit — words associated with it, words that go with it, and its nearest matches in meaning. Related words include counterploy, kriegspiel, chess, queenside, kingside, endgame, fianchetto, counterplay. Click any word to make it the center of the map and keep exploring the web of connections.

Synonyms for gambit

Common synonyms for gambit include ploy, stratagem, ruse, tactic, strategy, subterfuge, gimmick, maneuver — words that share a close meaning. Hover or tap any word on the map for its definition and part of speech.

Where does gambit come from?

The word gambit breaks down into one root of Italian origin: the root gamb-, from Italian gamba (“leg”). Explore each root to see other English words built from the same source.