as in gadget
an interesting and often novel device with a practical use
built a contraption for automatically buttering toast
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Recent Examples of contraption
Each hat starts as a pile of fur swirled into a cone using a contraption akin to a cotton candy machine, Dunlap said.
—
Maliya Ellis, Houston Chronicle, 18 Mar. 2026
After Bradley entered the kitchen, Fieri led the chefs to the Randomizer, a contraption that selects the elements chefs must use while cooking.
—Rachel Bernhard, jsonline.com, 16 Mar. 2026
Fowler tried all sorts of techniques and contraptions—mouth tape, oral appliances, a special therapeutic water bottle, tough Turkish chewing gum.
—Gilad Edelman, The Atlantic, 15 Mar. 2026
However, with a bit of practice, these fairly portable (though often heavy) contraptions bridge the gap between casual night photography and more serious astrophotography.
—Jamie Carter, Space.com, 10 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for contraption
Maliya Ellis, Houston Chronicle, 18 Mar. 2026
After Bradley entered the kitchen, Fieri led the chefs to the Randomizer, a contraption that selects the elements chefs must use while cooking.
—Rachel Bernhard, jsonline.com, 16 Mar. 2026
Fowler tried all sorts of techniques and contraptions—mouth tape, oral appliances, a special therapeutic water bottle, tough Turkish chewing gum.
—Gilad Edelman, The Atlantic, 15 Mar. 2026
However, with a bit of practice, these fairly portable (though often heavy) contraptions bridge the gap between casual night photography and more serious astrophotography.
—Jamie Carter, Space.com, 10 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for contraption
Recent Examples of Synonyms for contraption
gadget
Noun
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Packing this $12 gadget could also save you money on budget airlines that charge an arm and a leg for access to in-flight entertainment.—
Olivia Young,
Travel + Leisure,
21 Apr. 2026
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View gallery - 3 images Aside from being tough as nails, rugged gadgets typically prioritize long battery life, but increasingly, newer models have been adding in specialized tools for fieldwork.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
18 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Contraption.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contraption. Accessed 26 Apr. 2026.
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