as in gadgets
an interesting and often novel device with a practical use
built a contraption for automatically buttering toast
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 contraptions
There are some contraptions that overcome this technological hurdle, but these are expensive or cumbersome.
—
Frederick Dreier, Outside, 25 Dec. 2025
Plants grow toward light, microbes swim toward rich food sources, animals hide from predators, humans send giant metal contraptions into outer space.
—Adam Frank, The Atlantic, 15 Dec. 2025
View gallery - 3 images Colin Furze used to be a plumber, but really found his calling building wacky contraptions, like a homemade hoverbike, a bicycle with wheels made of ice, and automatic Wolverine claws.
—Abhimanyu Ghoshal, New Atlas, 14 Dec. 2025
Some of these contraptions even come with a phone app that reminds you when to water your seedlings.
—Paul Cappiello, Louisville Courier Journal, 12 Dec. 2025
Its smaller size makes the Gallardo easier to use on real-world roads, while conventional doors—rather than unwieldy scissor-style contraptions—allow normal ingress/egress, and once inside, even tall drivers can see and function with relative ease.
—Robert Ross, Robb Report, 21 Nov. 2025
When a rebellion erupts between Earth and its colonies, the ensuing conflict is fought by pilots in massive mechanized contraptions known as mobile suits.
—Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 21 Nov. 2025
Her sartorial concoctions rivaled the contraptions of Rube Goldberg.
—Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 13 Oct. 2025
Smaller bamboo contraptions often poke out of windows, or cover air conditioning units and balconies.
—Karina Tsui, CNN Money, 10 Sep. 2025
Frederick Dreier, Outside, 25 Dec. 2025
Plants grow toward light, microbes swim toward rich food sources, animals hide from predators, humans send giant metal contraptions into outer space.
—Adam Frank, The Atlantic, 15 Dec. 2025
View gallery - 3 images Colin Furze used to be a plumber, but really found his calling building wacky contraptions, like a homemade hoverbike, a bicycle with wheels made of ice, and automatic Wolverine claws.
—Abhimanyu Ghoshal, New Atlas, 14 Dec. 2025
Some of these contraptions even come with a phone app that reminds you when to water your seedlings.
—Paul Cappiello, Louisville Courier Journal, 12 Dec. 2025
Its smaller size makes the Gallardo easier to use on real-world roads, while conventional doors—rather than unwieldy scissor-style contraptions—allow normal ingress/egress, and once inside, even tall drivers can see and function with relative ease.
—Robert Ross, Robb Report, 21 Nov. 2025
When a rebellion erupts between Earth and its colonies, the ensuing conflict is fought by pilots in massive mechanized contraptions known as mobile suits.
—Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 21 Nov. 2025
Her sartorial concoctions rivaled the contraptions of Rube Goldberg.
—Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 13 Oct. 2025
Smaller bamboo contraptions often poke out of windows, or cover air conditioning units and balconies.
—Karina Tsui, CNN Money, 10 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for contraptions
gadgets
Noun
-
The little shop’s name comes from the quartermaster character, Q, who provides the gadgets and, more to the point, Aston Martin cars for James Bond in the famous movies.—
Peter Valdes-Dapena,
CNN Money,
6 Jan. 2026
-
Users can also manage their smart home gadgets within the Alexa+ chat window, the company said.—
Annie Palmer,
CNBC,
5 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Contraptions.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contraptions. Accessed 11 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share