Synonym Chooser

How is the word appliance different from other nouns like it?

Some common synonyms of appliance are implement, instrument, tool, and utensil. While all these words mean "a relatively simple device for performing work," appliance refers to a tool or instrument utilizing a power source and suggests portability or temporary attachment.

household appliances

When is implement a more appropriate choice than appliance?

In some situations, the words implement and appliance are roughly equivalent. However, implement may apply to anything necessary to perform a task.

crude stone implements
farm implements

When can instrument be used instead of appliance?

Although the words instrument and appliance have much in common, instrument suggests a device capable of delicate or precise work.

the dentist's instruments

How do tool and implement relate to one another, in the sense of appliance?

Tool suggests an implement adapted to facilitate a definite kind or stage of work and suggests the need of skill more strongly than implement.

a carpenter's tools

When would utensil be a good substitute for appliance?

While the synonyms utensil and appliance are close in meaning, utensil applies to a device used in domestic work or some routine unskilled activity.

kitchen utensils

Examples 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 appliance Meanwhile, orders for durable goods — generally big-ticket items such as aircraft, appliances and computers — fell 1.1% in November, the largest month-over-month drop since June. Yun Li, CNBC, 22 Dec. 2024 Tree stumps and branches, trash and household appliances waste away on roadsides and in rivers. Deon J. Hampton, NBC News, 21 Dec. 2024 Small appliances might break down or a minor breakage could occur. Georgia Nicols, The Denver Post, 21 Dec. 2024 The home improvement chain is offering up to 30% off select major appliances until January 8, 2025, as well as 30% off on some holiday storage items. Kate Gibson, CBS News, 26 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for appliance 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for appliance
Noun
  • Published on January 10, 2025 By Bryan Hood Lenovo/LG/Halliday/Honda For tech obsessives and gadget junkies there’s no better time of the year than the beginning of January.
    Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 10 Jan. 2025
  • Still, these vanguards in the wearable industry are pushing us toward an era when always-listening gadgets on our wrists and heads could grow to be more helpful.
    Julian Chokkattu, WIRED, 8 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • Her favorite accessories—from bags to fur hats and even pieces from Rocky’s wardrobe—are easily reached for across a busy time for the couple in New York.
    Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 3 Jan. 2025
  • But the Amazon deals don’t stop here; keep reading for the best savings on luggage, travel accessories, home goods, comfy shoes, and tech that the site has to offer.
    Amelia McBride, Travel + Leisure, 1 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • In theory, Spotify had any number of options: raising subscription rates, cutting costs by downsizing operations, or finding ways to attract new subscribers.
    Liz Pelly, Harper's Magazine, 2 Jan. 2025
  • The crawl from one to the other matters as much as the enlightenment itself—skipping the charnel grounds isn’t an option.
    Jackson Arn, The New Yorker, 2 Jan. 2025

Thesaurus Entries Near appliance

Cite this Entry

“Appliance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/appliance. Accessed 14 Jan. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on appliance

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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