1
as in certificate
a written or printed paper giving information about or proof of something a valid will is a legal instrument

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
3
4
as in pawn
one that is or can be used to further the purposes of another the claim that the scientists are mere instruments of the tobacco companies, who pay them to produce findings that are highly suspect

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

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

Some common synonyms of instrument are appliance, implement, tool, and utensil. While all these words mean "a relatively simple device for performing work," instrument suggests a device capable of delicate or precise work.

the dentist's instruments

When can appliance be used instead of instrument?

The words appliance and instrument can be used in similar contexts, but appliance refers to a tool or instrument utilizing a power source and suggests portability or temporary attachment.

household appliances

When could implement be used to replace instrument?

While the synonyms implement and instrument are close in meaning, implement may apply to anything necessary to perform a task.

crude stone implements
farm implements

How are the words tool and implement related as synonyms of instrument?

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 is utensil a more appropriate choice than instrument?

The synonyms utensil and instrument are sometimes interchangeable, but utensil applies to a device used in domestic work or some routine unskilled activity.

kitchen utensils

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 instrument His instruments—ranging from traditional to boldly abstract—were sculpted from woods with layered histories, including timber from trees once used in the lynching of Black men. Peter White, Deadline, 29 Sep. 2025 Attendees will learn about various special instruments and will have a chance to play with the band! Marla Jo Fisher, Oc Register, 29 Sep. 2025 According to the research team, this development will help accelerate the commercialization of advanced superconducting scientific instruments. Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 29 Sep. 2025 There's nothing wrong with using instruments and having one person overdub a bunch of things. Allaire Nuss, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for instrument
Recent Examples of Synonyms for instrument
Noun
  • Producers who ship nursery stock out of regulated areas to non-regulated areas must have their stock inspected, and each load must be accompanied by a certificate that attests to the fact that their product is free from the box tree moth.
    Chad Murphy, Cincinnati Enquirer, 2 Oct. 2025
  • Property owners must apply for a special permit, called a certificate of appropriateness, to demolish a building on the local historic register.
    Chris Higgins, Kansas City Star, 30 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Having a familiar presence like Joan at Westside Hospital is a helpful tool for Amy, who’s still rebuilding her life after the season 1 car crash that left her with a traumatic brain injury, wiping her memories of the previous eight years.
    Eric Andersson, PEOPLE, 1 Oct. 2025
  • Movies That Don’t Exist, a native digital format created and directed by Hernández, where AI becomes an experimental tool that amplifies creativity and connects with audiences through his YouTube channel, with over 3 million subscribers.
    Anna Marie de la Fuente, Variety, 1 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • They are left wielding the tools of instrumentality: in-groups and cliques, buying effort through more money, coercive employment agreements and suits against whistleblowers.
    Dave Winsborough, Forbes.com, 19 July 2025
  • Holding the weight of cotton’s influence on the world, and thus the instrumentality of Black labor, is painful, yet necessary work.
    Cierra Black, Essence, 9 July 2025
Noun
  • Rick Harrison's popular Las Vegas pawn shop displays rare finds and historical artifacts, attracting 1,200 daily visitors.
    Staff, FOXNews.com, 2 Oct. 2025
  • Declaring war on our nation’s cities and using our troops as political pawns is what dictators do.
    Brian Bennett, Time, 30 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Oceanco also grabbed headlines by signing a contract with Lloyd’s Register during the show for the classification and certification of a 427-foot yacht, which will be the largest ever built the Dutch shipyard.
    Michael Verdon, Robb Report, 7 Oct. 2025
  • All the tribal colleges also offer associate degrees and certifications.
    Cynthia Lindquist, The Conversation, 7 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • On September 10, when several Russian drones breached Poland’s airspace, NATO aircraft were scrambled to intercept and shoot down some of the devices.
    Robert Birsel, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Oct. 2025
  • Buy Eli Lilly and Johnson & Johnson , which is breaking out because of its devices and cancer franchise.
    Jim Cramer, CNBC, 1 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • That position of strength means, in the local media, the messaging can often be shaped to the club’s advantage.
    Pol Ballús, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2025
  • Flax is known to promote good digestive health and prevent constipation, thanks to plenty of insoluble fiber and soluble fiber (both of which facilitate digestion and regular bowel movements through slightly different means).
    Christina Chaey, Bon Appetit Magazine, 30 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Vehicle owners are advised to park the vehicle outside and away from any structures and other vehicles until the recall is fixed.
    Olivia Evans, Louisville Courier Journal, 2 Oct. 2025
  • Early on, his department sent drones skyward to see how the store was managing incoming vehicles.
    Patricia Gallagher Newberry, Cincinnati Enquirer, 2 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Instrument.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/instrument. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.

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