infernal machine

noun

: a machine or apparatus maliciously designed to explode and destroy life or property
especially : a concealed or disguised bomb

Examples of infernal machine in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web There was a possibility, police said, that Weigand had stumbled upon a mad bomber about to set off another infernal machine. Mara Bovsun, New York Daily News, 24 Mar. 2024 From the anarchist’s perspective, the true infernal machine that had been unleashed was James Watt’s steam engine. Steven Johnson, New York Times, 17 May 2024 But of all the bomb throwers of the period, no group was more closely associated with the infernal machines than the anarchists — to such a degree that the press began to call them the Dynamite Club. Steven Johnson, New York Times, 17 May 2024 Dale Stewart, 54, of Webster, N.H. was arrested Thursday evening and arraigned Friday morning on felony charges that include throwing or placing explosives, possessing an infernal machine, reckless conduct with a deadly weapon, and second degree assault, police said. Steven Porter, BostonGlobe.com, 28 Apr. 2023 Aycock’s strangely infernal machine upends historical associations between weaving and delicate women’s work, inserting monumental sculpture into the postindustrial dialogue. Christopher Knight, Los Angeles Times, 5 Oct. 2022 At 5:30 o'clock this afternoon, Lloyd's issued a statement that the Lusitania was believed to have been blown up by an infernal machine. sandiegouniontribune.com, 7 May 2018

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'infernal machine.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1810, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of infernal machine was in 1810

Dictionary Entries Near infernal machine

Cite this Entry

“Infernal machine.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/infernal%20machine. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

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