as in tendency
a habitual attraction to some activity or thing
left to her own devices she'd eat at a fast-food restaurant every night of the week
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of devices
But none of that has happened, and Hamas rejected a new disarmament proposal in March that would force it to give up its tunnel network as well as rockets, heavy munitions, explosive devices and assault rifles before any Israel withdrawal.
—
Nabih Bulos,
Los Angeles Times,
30 June 2026
This one from Amazon is only $36 and can keep your devices charged for up to one week on a single charge.
—
Julia Morlino,
Travel + Leisure,
30 June 2026
Gemini’s special status on Android devices gives it access to user files, screen content, and enhanced voice interactions.
—
Ryan Whitwam,
ArsTechnica,
29 June 2026
The best antiaging devices have the latest technology to give you glowing, radiant skin at home.
—
Alanna Martine Kilkeary,
Glamour,
29 June 2026
Apple devices will soon offer significantly more colorful displays rivaling the true-to-life image reproduction of professional industry hardware.
—
Paul Monckton,
Forbes.com,
29 June 2026
At one point, Jessie befriends a gang of tech toys that includes a low-tech potty-training product named Smarty Pants, along with GPS and camera devices Atlas and Snappy.
—
Rachel Hale,
USA Today,
26 June 2026
The suspects arrested allegedly planned to target senior government officials with small, armed drones; no devices were launched.
—
Larry Seward,
CBS News,
26 June 2026
The massive demand for cooling devices underscores the shift in European consumer behavior as countries grapple with profound climate changes.
—
CNN Money,
26 June 2026
Nabih Bulos,
Los Angeles Times,
30 June 2026
This one from Amazon is only $36 and can keep your devices charged for up to one week on a single charge.
—
Julia Morlino,
Travel + Leisure,
30 June 2026
Gemini’s special status on Android devices gives it access to user files, screen content, and enhanced voice interactions.
—
Ryan Whitwam,
ArsTechnica,
29 June 2026
The best antiaging devices have the latest technology to give you glowing, radiant skin at home.
—
Alanna Martine Kilkeary,
Glamour,
29 June 2026
Apple devices will soon offer significantly more colorful displays rivaling the true-to-life image reproduction of professional industry hardware.
—
Paul Monckton,
Forbes.com,
29 June 2026
At one point, Jessie befriends a gang of tech toys that includes a low-tech potty-training product named Smarty Pants, along with GPS and camera devices Atlas and Snappy.
—
Rachel Hale,
USA Today,
26 June 2026
The suspects arrested allegedly planned to target senior government officials with small, armed drones; no devices were launched.
—
Larry Seward,
CBS News,
26 June 2026
The massive demand for cooling devices underscores the shift in European consumer behavior as countries grapple with profound climate changes.
—
CNN Money,
26 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for devices
Noun
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These deciduous trees are invasive in many areas because of their aggressive roots that spread wide and far, and their tendency to take over native plants.
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This is largely because about half of autistic children have a tendency to wander away from safe environments.
Noun
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The future of talent acquisition will require hiring more for aptitude, adaptability and leadership potential—and less for perfectly linear résumés.
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The North Korean players’ physical aptitude was clear, but coaches were aware of their technical and tactical shortcomings.
Noun
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Spiritual progress requires fighting against the natural downward inclination of our souls—though fighting, oddly, is also the problem.
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Getty Choosing a college major has always been a big life decision, influenced by not only personal inclinations and talents, but also by starting salaries.
Noun
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The design and materials of devices such as bone saws, fleams and scarifacators – used to bleed veins and skin surfaces – illustrate the close affinity of humans with other animals.
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Congress has also shown an affinity for weighing in on sports disputes—consider the airtime members of Congress receive when sermonizing on the state of college sports.
Noun
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The inspiration came out of the genuine affection that both my troop and our trainers felt toward the pigs.
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White one-upped her player’s show of affection by wrapping both arms around her.
Noun
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The pair described childhood bedrooms covered in surf magazine cutouts and boards decorated with stickers in imitation of pro riders, calling the capsule a nod to that same impulse to live inside surf culture even when not in the water.
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That storytelling impulse extends beyond the restaurant floor into Spooky Wine Society, a personal project built around horror, community and shared experience.
Noun
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The fraught subject of the proper disposition of those human remains has taken on a new sensitivity — both for the prehistoric people’s Native American successors in Florida, and for the archaeologists and developers encountering them.
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That disposition compounded into the richest, most inventive society the world has ever seen.
Cite this Entry
“Devices.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/devices. Accessed 3 Jul. 2026.
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