as in means
something used to achieve an end
computer literacy is only an instrumentality for acquiring an education, and not an end in itself
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of instrumentality
But the instrumentality of so many of his characters seems to have reached a nadir in The City and Its Uncertain Walls.
—
Bailey Trela, Vulture, 19 Nov. 2024
Moore said Tuesday, after the meeting, that the city controlling the budget would not be a legal conflict of interest, as the PAB is an instrumentality of Baltimore City.
—Darcy Costello, Baltimore Sun, 7 Feb. 2024
To effect these seizures, the FBI will simultaneously issue commands that will interfere with the hackers’ control over the instrumentalities of their crimes (the Target Devices), including by preventing the hackers from easily re-infecting the Target Devices with KV Botnet malware.
a.
—Samuel Axon, Ars Technica, 31 Jan. 2024
The common thread here is a blatant, self-serving instrumentality incapable of distinguishing between the desire for order and the desire for domination, between the good of all and one’s own good.
—Jack Butler, National Review, 31 Dec. 2023
See All Example Sentences for instrumentality
Bailey Trela, Vulture, 19 Nov. 2024
Moore said Tuesday, after the meeting, that the city controlling the budget would not be a legal conflict of interest, as the PAB is an instrumentality of Baltimore City.
—Darcy Costello, Baltimore Sun, 7 Feb. 2024
To effect these seizures, the FBI will simultaneously issue commands that will interfere with the hackers’ control over the instrumentalities of their crimes (the Target Devices), including by preventing the hackers from easily re-infecting the Target Devices with KV Botnet malware.
a.
—Samuel Axon, Ars Technica, 31 Jan. 2024
The common thread here is a blatant, self-serving instrumentality incapable of distinguishing between the desire for order and the desire for domination, between the good of all and one’s own good.
—Jack Butler, National Review, 31 Dec. 2023
See All Example Sentences for instrumentality
Recent Examples of Synonyms for instrumentality
Noun
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Jonathan Rinderknecht, 29, is facing a federal charge of destruction of property by means of fire in connection with the Palisades Fire, according to Bill Essayli, the acting US attorney for Southern California.—
Josh Campbell,
CNN Money,
8 Oct. 2025
-
Larry Ellison, Oracle’s chairman and chief technology officer, has by all means conquered the tech world.—
Jessica Coacci,
Fortune,
8 Oct. 2025
Noun
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In the Gulf, governments and the private sector are creating new companies and financial instruments that open opportunities for investors in both debt and equity markets.—
Mohammed Sergie,
semafor.com,
9 Oct. 2025
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An advantageous aerial view Neither orbiter carries instruments that were designed to clock wind speeds on Mars.—
Ashley Strickland,
CNN Money,
8 Oct. 2025
Noun
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In September, Border Patrol agents averaged roughly 279 apprehensions per day along the Southwest border — about 8,300 for the month — marking a 95% drop from the previous administration’s daily average of about 5,110 between February 2021 and December 2024, according to CBP figures.—
Michael Dorgan,
FOXNews.com,
8 Oct. 2025
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According to a China State Council directive, the country is aiming for AI adoption to reach 70% of the population by 2027 by imbuing various agents and other applications across core industries.—
Jaures Yip,
CNBC,
8 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Analysts have raised the possibility that North Korea’s next-generation Hwasong-20 intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), its new Hwasong-11 Ma hypersonic glide vehicle, and other advanced weapons systems will be on display.—
Helen Regan,
CNN Money,
9 Oct. 2025
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Able to carry up to twelve low-yield warheads (100–300 kt), Layner supports mixed-yield loadouts and advanced countermeasures — extensive decoys and configurable warhead/decoy mixes — while its reentry vehicles reportedly perform in-flight maneuvering and re-targeting to defeat missile.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
9 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The violent machinery of the state is directed against the country’s own citizens.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
10 Oct. 2025
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There’s been a lot of innovation and so much new technology—new machinery, and new methods of doing things more efficiently; that’s one.—
Hannah Jackson,
Vogue,
9 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Political parties, media brands, and government agencies turn out to be just a collection of individuals vulnerable to pressure and attack.—
Ben Smith,
semafor.com,
13 Oct. 2025
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The agency attributed the quote to an unnamed spokesperson and did not respond to a request for clarification.—
Matthew Kelly,
Kansas City Star,
13 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The mechanisms that enable replication—the model weights themselves, the precise optimization subroutines, the engineering tricks that enhance model capabilities—deserve tight custody.—
MSNBC Newsweek,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Oct. 2025
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Having a more robust mechanism in place to collect product data—then share it externally—could be key for manufacturers worldwide as companies race to meet their sustainability goals and determine how to comply with regulations.—
Meghan Hall,
Sourcing Journal,
8 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The assessment found that PFNA interferes with human development by causing lower birth weights and, based on animal evidence, likely causes damage to the liver and to male reproductive systems, including reductions in testosterone levels, sperm production and the size of reproductive organs.—
Sharon Lerner,
ProPublica,
10 Oct. 2025
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These findings have transformed the understanding of autoimmune diseases, cancer immunotherapy, and organ transplant science, leading to over 200 clinical trials worldwide.—
Shane Croucher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Instrumentality.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/instrumentality. Accessed 14 Oct. 2025.
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