cables

noun

plural of cable
as in wires
a length of braided, flexible material that is used for tying or connecting things a mass of cables connecting the office computers to the main server

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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 cables The latest development is hedgehog-style armor, which surrounds the vehicle with unraveled steel cables intended to snag, disrupt, or prematurely detonate incoming FPV drones. — Vikram Mittal, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026 That comes as Verizon continues retiring its legacy copper network in favor of faster and more power-efficient fiber-optic cables for broadband services. — Jeremy Hsu, ArsTechnica, 27 July 2026 The companies said the technology could support anti-submarine warfare, mine countermeasures, intelligence gathering and protection of critical maritime infrastructure, including undersea cables and offshore energy facilities. — Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 27 July 2026 Lightweight embedded stainless steel cables, meanwhile, make the straps slash-resistant. — Katie Jackson, Travel + Leisure, 26 July 2026 Chargers, cables, and mysterious cords without a matching device are some of the easiest things to let go. — Jamie Cuccinelli, Martha Stewart, 26 July 2026 The shots are busy with equipment—boom mikes, bulb-flashes, wires and cables dripping like innards or snakes, the hungry Cyclopean eye of a mounted camera. — Katy Waldman, New Yorker, 24 July 2026 The spinning drives a generator, sending power to shore via undersea cables. — New Atlas, 21 July 2026 Nearby, on the uptown track, three men stood on a the flatbed car of a work train, reaching up towards the ceiling to organize and wrap up bundles of electrical cables. — Evan Simko-Bednarski, New York Daily News, 19 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cables
  1. wires
  2. ropes
  3. cords
Noun
  • The General Post Office's (GPO) system of wires and cables simply could not keep up with the ever-increasing demand for more bandwidth to accommodate not only phone traffic but the expanding television networks.
    — David Szondy August 01, New Atlas, 1 Aug. 2026
  • Otherwise, Iran and the United States will continue to get their wires crossed—and the next cease-fire could again collapse.
    — Erik Lin-Greenberg, Foreign Affairs, 31 July 2026
Definition of wires
Noun
  • Punk connected with the GTS again, but was too close to the ropes so Rhodes got the rope break at the very last second.
    — Blake Oestriecher, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2026
  • Some lowered themselves by ropes from the top of buildings that are 42 and 54 stories tall after climbing stairs to the roofs.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 31 July 2026
Definition of ropes
Noun
  • Michael, who would later split from his father’s control, accused him of severe childhood emotional and physical abuse, including beatings with iron cords.
    — Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 4 Aug. 2026
  • The device can fit in standard gallery frames and doesn’t require power or data cords.
    — Mark Sparrow, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026
Definition of cords

Browse Nearby Words

cablecasts
cables
cabochon
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Cables.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cables. Accessed 5 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on cables

Nglish: Translation of cables for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

'Sneaked' or 'Snuck': Which is correct?

Why does English have so many silent letters?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Dutch Treat and French Leave: Eight Place-Based Compounds

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

How long is a jiffy?

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)
See More

Popular

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Dutch Treat and French Leave: Eight Place-Based Compounds

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
asap street sign
Figure Out These Acronyms ASAP You don't have to be a NASA engineer to get these...
See All