as in what-is-it
a small article the actual name of which one either does not know or cannot remember
the store sells an array of whatnots for the do-it-yourself plumber
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
ˈ(h)wät-ˌnät
as in whatever
any of various other things that might also be mentioned
the drawer is full of spare pens, paper clips, stray elastics and whatnot
Synonyms & Similar Words
Examples of whatnot in a Sentence
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of
Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback
about these examples.
Recent Examples on the Web
Julia Moore, Peoplemag, 4 Sep. 2024
There are other astronauts, U.S. and Russian, and besides that, the Space Station receives pretty regular cargo shipments, which are basically cargo ships that go up without crew, to deliver supplies, food and whatnot.
—Taylor Wilson, USA TODAY, 3 Sep. 2024
The rest—spark plugs, crankshafts, windshields, tires and whatnot—are supplied by third parties.
—Christiaan Hetzner, Fortune, 18 Aug. 2024
People don’t look at the subsidiary outlets, like DVD and streaming and whatnot.
—Samantha Bergeson, IndieWire, 5 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for whatnot 
Noun
And since then, it’s just been off and on and whatnot.
—Julia Moore, Peoplemag, 4 Sep. 2024
There are other astronauts, U.S. and Russian, and besides that, the Space Station receives pretty regular cargo shipments, which are basically cargo ships that go up without crew, to deliver supplies, food and whatnot.
—Taylor Wilson, USA TODAY, 3 Sep. 2024
The rest—spark plugs, crankshafts, windshields, tires and whatnot—are supplied by third parties.
—Christiaan Hetzner, Fortune, 18 Aug. 2024
People don’t look at the subsidiary outlets, like DVD and streaming and whatnot.
—Samantha Bergeson, IndieWire, 5 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for whatnot
Recent Examples of Synonyms for whatnot
Noun
-
Lenovo’s claim appears to be that the Legion 9i can fully cool itself with this method, no thingamajig needed.Monica Chin, The Verge, 1 Sep. 2023
-
Shot in 2021, the film apparently featured a crew of Ukrainian gangsters as the henchmen of Hugh Grant’s billionaire arms dealer antagonist, Greg Simmonds (who is brokering the thingamajig deal).Katie Walsh, Los Angeles Times, 3 Mar. 2023
Noun
-
Back then, the song was a fast, visionary whatsit, all pulsing, pipe-like synths and simple, buzzing one-bit melodies.Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 16 Mar. 2024
-
The villain this time around isn’t a person but an all-powerful artificial-intelligence whatsit known as the Entity, which fools a super-advanced Russian submarine into destroying itself in the film’s clever pre-credits sequence.Peter Debruge, Variety, 5 July 2023
Noun
-
Also: how in the name of Philadelphia Flyers hockey legend Bobby Clarke did this show get Gritty, the giant orange whatchamacallit who is the Flyers mascot, as its opening night guest star?Gene Seymour, CNN, 22 Sep. 2022
-
The ranking only includes the 193 breeds that the AKC recognizes, so unfortunately, mixed breeds like maltipoos, goldendoodles and whatchamacallits aren't on it.AJ Willingham, CNN, 9 May 2020
Noun
-
These days, though KitchenAid sells all kinds of other doohickeys, the stand mixer is still what the company is known for.Ellen Cushing, The Atlantic, 16 Sep. 2024
-
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below Vehicles of all shapes and sizes are present at Woodward, including this minuscule go-kart doohickey.Caleb Miller, Car and Driver, 22 Aug. 2023
Noun
-
Want to make a new crypto, or a new crypto thingamabob?Clem Chambers, Forbes, 26 Sep. 2024
-
Fans were just as curious about the casting for Disney's live-action The Little Mermaid as Ariel is about whozits, whatzits, and thingamabobs.Nick Romano, EW.com, 4 Apr. 2023
Thesaurus Entries Near whatnot
Cite this Entry
“Whatnot.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/whatnot. Accessed 10 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share