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
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 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
-
The problem is that the objective optimized by the algorithm is good for the people who control the means of prediction…but not good for the rest of society.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
5 Nov. 2025
-
Then Vice President Cheney condemned those behind the torture scandal, while at the same time defending water-boarding as a useful means of extracting vital intelligence (many intelligence experts say water-boarding is torture, and its victims will say anything to avoid further abuse).—
Ben Wedeman,
CNN Money,
5 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
But a team of Australian researchers created an AI algorithm that fixes the problem — a major relief for the scientific community, which hopes to use the instrument to search for exoplanets around stars in our Milky Way galaxy.—
Tereza Pultarova,
Space.com,
5 Nov. 2025
-
In the year leading up to March 2024, 570 homicides took place in England and Wales, according to ONS, with 262 homicides committed using a knife or other sharp instrument.—
Catherine Nicholls,
CNN Money,
4 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
The woman, Marimar Martinez, is accused of closely pursuing the agent and ramming into his car.—
Omar Jimenez,
CNN Money,
6 Nov. 2025
-
The team settled for adding TE Josh Whyle and defensive lineman Arron Mosby from the practice squad to the active roster, but Green Bay is apparently in on one prominent free-agent defensive back as well.—
Michael Gallagher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
In addition to WeRide and Pony AI, Baidu is also expanding its robotaxi offerings through its Apollo Go vehicles.—
Sydney Lake,
Fortune,
6 Nov. 2025
-
Leave plenty of distance between you and the vehicle in front of you to account for sudden stops or changes in the traffic pattern.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
6 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Ben Mead, managing director of Hohenstein Americas, the largest provider of testing for Oeko-Tex, says some limitations are so strict that even contamination on the machinery from previous runs can show up in testing.—
Sophie Benson,
Vogue,
30 Oct. 2025
-
Companies affected by the shutdown include providers of high-tech machinery, office supplies, and landscaping services, according to the report, which was shared with CNBC before its public release.—
Emily Wilkins,
CNBC,
30 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Cantrell said the sheriff's office has never been contacted by any federal agencies questioning the spending.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
3 Nov. 2025
-
While the expansion has led to more arrests, especially in Florida, many local agencies are reluctant to participate.—
Sasha Rogelberg,
Fortune,
3 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
The state has also advanced in large-scale restoration through innovative mechanisms such as restoration concessions, while intensifying actions to combat deforestation and forest fires.—
MSNBC Newsweek,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 Nov. 2025
-
The perpétuelle montre à tact showcases many of the key refinements and complications that Breguet perfected, including automatic winding, a calendar display, and an ingenious tact mechanism for telling the time silently or in darkness.—
Rachel Cormack,
Robb Report,
5 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, CMT causes a range of sensory and motor symptoms, including numbness, tingling, pain, muscle weakness and atrophy — deterioration in cells, tissues, and organs.—
Diana Leyva,
Nashville Tennessean,
24 Oct. 2025
-
Endometriosis Endometriosis is a condition in which uterine-like tissue grows outside of the uterus on other nearby organs.—
Wendy Wisner,
Health,
24 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Instrumentality.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/instrumentality. Accessed 7 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share