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.
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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.
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 mechanism
Many birth control methods combine two or three of these mechanisms to help prevent pregnancy.4
For pregnancy to happen, your ovaries must first release a mature egg into a fallopian tube.
—
Femi Aremu, Verywell Health, 30 Apr. 2025
Yet oil fires set by Iraq during the Gulf War in 1991, and recent environmental damage in the Gaza Strip, Ukraine and Syria indicate the limits of relying on treaties when there are no strong mechanisms to ensure compliance.
—Pamela McElwee, The Conversation, 28 Apr. 2025
Parallel processing of past and future memories through reactivation and synaptic plasticity mechanisms during sleep
Cleveland Clinic.
—Jack Knudson, Discover Magazine, 28 Apr. 2025
Trump’s Comments Raise Legal Alarms Domestically, the mechanisms of deportation or the state punishing its enemies are unlikely to stop with Venezuelans or advocates of a Palestinian state, since the mechanism of power is based on paranoia, with one threat metastasizing and expanding.
—Viet Thanh Nguyễn, Time, 28 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for mechanism
Femi Aremu, Verywell Health, 30 Apr. 2025
Yet oil fires set by Iraq during the Gulf War in 1991, and recent environmental damage in the Gaza Strip, Ukraine and Syria indicate the limits of relying on treaties when there are no strong mechanisms to ensure compliance.
—Pamela McElwee, The Conversation, 28 Apr. 2025
Parallel processing of past and future memories through reactivation and synaptic plasticity mechanisms during sleep
Cleveland Clinic.
—Jack Knudson, Discover Magazine, 28 Apr. 2025
Trump’s Comments Raise Legal Alarms Domestically, the mechanisms of deportation or the state punishing its enemies are unlikely to stop with Venezuelans or advocates of a Palestinian state, since the mechanism of power is based on paranoia, with one threat metastasizing and expanding.
—Viet Thanh Nguyễn, Time, 28 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for mechanism
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mechanism
Noun
-
This statement was a reference to Amir Jadidi (the lead actor in A Hero), who had also played in another film that was pure government propaganda — a project that had been very openly and directly funded and produced by the security apparatus of the Islamic Republic.—
Nick Vivarelli,
Variety,
5 May 2025
-
Authorities have so far been unable to corral those factions, many of which fought by their side during the civil war and are now putative allies in the country’s new security apparatus.—
Nabih Bulos,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Who’s going to play their own system and try to get more comfortable, get more wins and sacrifice your body for your teammates?—
Cory Lavalette,
New York Times,
3 May 2025
-
Yale New Haven Health is a nonprofit healthcare system based in New Haven, Connecticut.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
3 May 2025
Noun
-
The highest tier, which is $20.99 a month, includes the ability to stream on four devices and offers 4K Ultra HD video quality and 100 downloads.—
Anthony Robledo,
USA Today,
4 May 2025
-
Scientists recommend using all filters and parental controls with those devices and apps.—
Brittney Melton,
NPR,
2 May 2025
Noun
-
Hippler is allowing the account’s click activity pertaining to knives and knife accessories, the payment method used, and details of items in the cart, including all items added to the cart and removed from the cart or wish listed in the shopping bag.—
Jean Casarez,
CNN Money,
9 May 2025
-
With exquisite attention to detail, FAMILY PORTRAIT expertly uses stop-motion’s surreal nature to reveal the discord that arises from the collision of each family member’s coping methods.—
Matthew Carey,
Deadline,
9 May 2025
Noun
-
However, achieving automation and connectivity between disparate machines, systems and factory locations will first require a holistic data foundation.—
Marco Santos,
Forbes.com,
9 May 2025
-
This would require innovative technologies and a machine learning model that could understand the consumer’s buying history and preferences with more nuance than existing models.—
Jason Phillips,
USA Today,
9 May 2025
Noun
-
The process of selecting a new pope involves a papal conclave, a private election held behind closed doors of Vatican City's Sistine Chapel where 135 cardinals vote on who will serve as the next the head of the Catholic Church.—
Sudiksha Kochi,
USA Today,
4 May 2025
-
But this process can continue indefinitely, until a majority is reached.—
Callum Sutherland,
Time,
3 May 2025
Noun
-
Much of the class was about learning how to write out our prompts for the AI tools.—
Ernestine Siu,
CNBC,
8 May 2025
-
For estate planners, CPAs, and financial advisors, the key takeaway is that tax tools should serve philanthropic intent, not drive it.—
Matthew F. Erskine,
Forbes.com,
8 May 2025
Noun
-
Harvard has sued the Trump administration, claiming the government's actions, including freezing some of the university's federal funding, violate the First Amendment and don't follow proper procedure.—
Elissa Nadworny,
NPR,
2 May 2025
-
The policy includes procedures to address questions of eligibility.—
Jackson Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
2 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Mechanism.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mechanism. Accessed 18 May. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share