as in tendency
a habitual attraction to some activity or thing
left to her own devices she'd eat at a fast-food restaurant every night of the week
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of devices
During the Apollo missions, astronauts used urine collection and transfer devices, as well as plastic bags taped to the buttocks to collect feces.
—
Bymary Kekatos, ABC News, 2 Apr. 2026
Our bill will ban the federal government from buying and operating these devices made in countries that wish us harm.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 2 Apr. 2026
In Europe, countries such as Sweden and the Netherlands have already moved to scale back screen-heavy instruction or restrict student devices in school in an effort to de-digitize classrooms.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 2 Apr. 2026
Rapid developments in computer and Internet technology powered an ever-expanding selection of handheld digital devices such as the Palm Pilot, BlackBerry, iPhone, and iPod.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Apr. 2026
Check out the photo albums on your devices and organize the photos into albums.
—Joy Harden Bradford, AJC.com, 2 Apr. 2026
These students are building devices to make everyday activities like bathing, playing, and reading more accessible and fun.
—Lauren Crawford, CBS News, 2 Apr. 2026
Designed for modern professionals, this sleek backpack features anti-theft design elements to keep laptops and other devices extra secure.
—Bestreviews, Mercury News, 26 Mar. 2026
Red-light devices are increasingly appearing in dermatology offices, wellness centres, locker rooms and homes.
—Lynne Peeples, Scientific American, 26 Mar. 2026
Bymary Kekatos, ABC News, 2 Apr. 2026
Our bill will ban the federal government from buying and operating these devices made in countries that wish us harm.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 2 Apr. 2026
In Europe, countries such as Sweden and the Netherlands have already moved to scale back screen-heavy instruction or restrict student devices in school in an effort to de-digitize classrooms.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 2 Apr. 2026
Rapid developments in computer and Internet technology powered an ever-expanding selection of handheld digital devices such as the Palm Pilot, BlackBerry, iPhone, and iPod.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Apr. 2026
Check out the photo albums on your devices and organize the photos into albums.
—Joy Harden Bradford, AJC.com, 2 Apr. 2026
These students are building devices to make everyday activities like bathing, playing, and reading more accessible and fun.
—Lauren Crawford, CBS News, 2 Apr. 2026
Designed for modern professionals, this sleek backpack features anti-theft design elements to keep laptops and other devices extra secure.
—Bestreviews, Mercury News, 26 Mar. 2026
Red-light devices are increasingly appearing in dermatology offices, wellness centres, locker rooms and homes.
—Lynne Peeples, Scientific American, 26 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for devices
Noun
-
A lot of dance music leans more dark and some of his melodic tendencies are brighter in a way, more major key.—
Kieran Press-Reynolds,
Pitchfork,
27 Mar. 2026
-
History may not repeat, but it sure as hell has a tendency to trigger the occasional sense of déjà vu.—
Anthony Crupi,
Sportico.com,
27 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Flutie played beyond his physical abilities partly because of his aptitude.—
Dan Pompei,
New York Times,
16 Mar. 2026
-
What Godoy does have a great aptitude for, however, is video games.—
Carlos Aguilar,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The 11 satellites on board are flying to a mid-inclination orbit.—
Richard Tribou,
The Orlando Sentinel,
2 Apr. 2026
-
The natural inclination, then, might be to try to ridicule the conspiracy believer into feeling enough shame to abandon their belief, but this often only drives them toward it.—
Mike Rothschild,
Big Think,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
For those following news about the war on social media, this affinity network—all these different figures with their own little tribes—has been quickly replacing images of the war with commentary on it.—
Jay Caspian Kang,
New Yorker,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Yes, our heroine is Mary Bennet, she of the off-key singing voice and affinity for vibe-killing piano concertos, a young woman who doesn’t care that men seldom make passes at girls who wear glasses and counts a day of being ignored by her family as a lucky escape from being mocked.—
Sophie Brookover,
Vulture,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Annie can be seen playing, seeking affection and happily engaging with Hannah and the other dogs in the home.—
Lucy Notarantonio,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Mar. 2026
-
Her 84-year-old mother’s case, still being investigated by law enforcement, generated an outpouring of public affection for the co-host.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
27 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Felder understood the impulse behind the shul’s decision.—
Eyal Press,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
-
The gulls circling a beachside table or boardwalk bench aren’t acting on random impulse.—
Samantha Agate,
Miami Herald,
30 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Ronald’s successor at the center of the story is Anthony Norman, another young man with an open face and an inviting disposition.—
Inkoo Kang,
New Yorker,
27 Mar. 2026
-
Before filing the Order to Show Cause, the Enforcement Division gives the subject the opportunity to resolve the matter through a disposition agreement.—
Rick Sobey,
Boston Herald,
27 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Devices.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/devices. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
