1
as in apparatus
a mechanical part or group of parts used to perform a specific task
The printer's paper feeding mechanism is jammed.
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2
as in system
a series of actions used to achieve an end
She was stunned to learn that there was no mechanism in place to remedy the problem.
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of mechanism
Language is a mechanism to structure our thoughts and give expression to our ideas, so the objective was to eliminate any possibility of critical thought.
—
Literary Hub, 27 Apr. 2026
Iran wants to persuade Oman, which shares the strait with Iran, to support a mechanism to collect tolls from vessels passing through the strait, according to a regional official who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss the matter.
—Samy Magdy, Chicago Tribune, 27 Apr. 2026
Iran wants to persuade Oman to support a mechanism to collect tolls from vessels passing through the strait, according to a regional official who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss the matter.
—Samy Magdy, Fortune, 27 Apr. 2026
If that overarching organization is not the right fit, then, what is the mechanism by which the dance community could come together and share those resources?
—Jared Kaufman, Twin Cities, 26 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for mechanism
Literary Hub, 27 Apr. 2026
Iran wants to persuade Oman, which shares the strait with Iran, to support a mechanism to collect tolls from vessels passing through the strait, according to a regional official who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss the matter.
—Samy Magdy, Chicago Tribune, 27 Apr. 2026
Iran wants to persuade Oman to support a mechanism to collect tolls from vessels passing through the strait, according to a regional official who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss the matter.
—Samy Magdy, Fortune, 27 Apr. 2026
If that overarching organization is not the right fit, then, what is the mechanism by which the dance community could come together and share those resources?
—Jared Kaufman, Twin Cities, 26 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for mechanism
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mechanism
Noun
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Here in front of me was the original apparatus through which a new vision of the world was slowly and painfully brought to light.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
23 Apr. 2026
-
Keeping quiet and focusing on nutrition for a few months is a small price to pay to retain authority over the nation’s public health apparatus.—
Will Walters,
STAT,
23 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
State-of-the-art drones, and the technology needed to intercept them, have become as important to national weapons arsenals as missiles, Patriot systems, fighter jets, and warships.—
Sudarsan Raghavan,
New Yorker,
28 Apr. 2026
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Over the past decade, research has consistently shown that natural fibers like cotton can biodegrade across a wide range of environments, including freshwater, saltwater, wastewater systems, soil, and compost.—
Angela Velasquez,
Footwear News,
27 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Sometimes the batteries on the trackers would run low, and McGovern’s team would need to remove and recharge the devices, before surreptitiously replacing them.—
Ed Caesar,
New Yorker,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Be sure to use the slider at the bottom of the page if their answers don’t fit the screen on your device.—
Mark Dee
April 29,
Idaho Statesman,
29 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
As The Athletic reported on Rosenior’s departure last week, Chelsea’s players not only lost trust in his methods, but were also divided among themselves over what was going on.—
Simon Johnson,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Students and professionals who learn to use advanced tools will accelerate, while those who rely on older methods will fall behind.—
Gerald Bradshaw,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
But the most beautiful machine is and always will be the human body.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
30 Apr. 2026
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Many exploits exploiting race conditions and memory corruption flaws don’t consistently succeed across kernel versions or distributions, and sometimes even on the same machine.—
Scharon Harding,
ArsTechnica,
30 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
In the process, however, one of the big distinguishing aspects of TV – the large audiences who once assembled to watch dramas, sitcoms and reality shows – has eroded.—
Brian Steinberg,
Variety,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Other states have to confront the unprecedented possibility of revising maps even as voters are casting ballots or the legal process of declaring intent to run for office has concluded.—
Nicholas Riccardi,
Chicago Tribune,
30 Apr. 2026
Noun
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That would mark the first withdrawal under this tool since February 2025, according to Bloomberg calculations based on the operation plan released late on Friday.—
Bloomberg,
Bloomberg,
27 Apr. 2026
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Leavitt is still more a collection of tools than a finished product right now, but those tools have first-round upside, to be sure.—
Nick Baumgardner,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The operator was not aware of proper hand-washing procedures.—
Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado
May 1,
Sacbee.com,
1 May 2026
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These procedures are often performed in outpatient settings and can be highly effective.—
Lauryn Higgins,
Flow Space,
1 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Mechanism.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mechanism. Accessed 3 May. 2026.
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