new wrinkle

Idioms  

1. A clever device or expedient, a novelty, as in The players added a new wrinkle to victory celebrations by tossing their shirts to the crowd after the game. In the form of simply a wrinkle, this expression dates from the mid-1700s, new being added two centuries later.

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Example Sentences

“And that is creating a new wrinkle in what has been a steady march toward reduced numbers by the U.S. and the U.S.S.R., now Russia.”

From Slate • Feb. 2, 2026

Now, competition from Google adds a new wrinkle, as the search giant already has a highly profitable advertising business that can support an ambitious new venture like directly entering the AI-chip market.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 3, 2025

The origination sales in the third quarter are a new wrinkle for the company, allowing it to raise cash while keeping its own high-margin revenue streams.

From Barron's • Nov. 7, 2025

On Jan. 1, 1967, the Packers beat the Cowboys in Dallas 34-27 for their second straight NFL title, but there was a new wrinkle.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 31, 2025

Then came the day Scythe Goddard threw a new wrinkle into the taut fabric of Rowan’s life.

From "Scythe" by Neal Shusterman

Related Words

• attitude
• concept
• idea
• manner
• means
• method
• mode
• procedure
• program
• style
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• way