Synonyms of mechanical

mechanical

adjective

mi-ˈka-ni-kəl 

1

as in automatic

done instantly and without conscious thought or decision

the waiter's mechanical reply of "Everything on the menu is good"

Synonyms & Similar Words

• automatic
• robotic
• mechanic
• reflex
• spontaneous
• simple
• sudden
• instinctive
• natural
• instinctual
• involuntary
• unwilling
• quick
• abrupt
• unconscious
• knee-jerk
• visceral
• reactive
• impulsive
• casual
• conditioned
• subliminal
• inadvertent
• unintentional
• blind
• Pavlovian
• random
• impromptu
• unintended
• unforced
• unwitting
• unreasoned
• extemporaneous
• improvised
• ready
• snap
• haphazard
• chance
• unplanned
• spur-of-the-moment
• unprepared
• extempore
• impetuous
• unpremeditated
• mindless
• unrehearsed
• hasty
• offhand
• unconsidered
• unstudied
• rash
• off-the-cuff
• offhanded
• hit-or-miss
• unprompted
• ad-lib
• chancy

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• conscious
• voluntary
• intentional
• deliberate
• nonmechanical
• volitional
• wilful
• intended
• prepared
• willful
• designed
• careful
• calculated
• predetermined
• refined
• willed
• rehearsed
• cultivated
• projected
• meticulous
• thoughtful
• reasoned
• measured
• considered
• studied
• advised
• foresighted
• aforethought
• forethoughtful

2

as in unnatural

lacking in natural or spontaneous quality

a somewhat mechanical vocal performance

Synonyms & Similar Words

• unnatural
• mock
• strained
• artificial
• false
• fake
• affected
• simulated
• pseudo
• plastic
• theatrical
• exaggerated
• forced
• assumed
• automatic
• factitious
• spurious
• theatric
• contrived
• feigned
• bogus
• cute
• phony
• sham
• phoney
• hollow
• formal
• pretended
• deliberate
• put-on
• unreal
• empty
• conventional
• manufactured
• calculated
• wooden
• stiff
• pat
• unrealistic
• conscious
• rigid
• melodramatic
• labored
• unauthentic
• hypocritical
• impersonal
• insincere
• histrionic
• facile
• fabricated
• hokey
• canned
• unctuous
• stylized
• artful
• mincing
• mealy
• cultivated
• inflexible
• concocted
• premeditated
• genteel
• left-handed
• simpering
• cutesy
• studied
• double-dealing
• two-faced
• overdone
• mealymouthed
• overrefined
• overacted
• goody-goody

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• natural
• spontaneous
• real
• genuine
• unaffected
• realistic
• artless
• bona fide
• true
• right
• authentic
• sincere
• honest
• unforced
• ingenuous
• smooth
• easy
• unfeigned
• uncontrived
• unconscious
• instinctive
• effortless
• impulsive
• impromptu
• extemporaneous
• unpretending
• unstudied
• unrehearsed
• unprompted

Synonym Chooser

How is the word mechanical distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of mechanical are automatic, impulsive, instinctive, and spontaneous. While all these words mean "acting or activated without deliberation," mechanical stresses the lifeless, often perfunctory character of the response.

a mechanical teaching method

When might automatic be a better fit than mechanical?

While in some cases nearly identical to mechanical, automatic implies action engaging neither the mind nor the emotions and connotes a predictable response.

his denial was automatic

When would impulsive be a good substitute for mechanical?

While the synonyms impulsive and mechanical are close in meaning, impulsive implies acting under stress of emotion or spirit of the moment.

impulsive acts of violence

When can instinctive be used instead of mechanical?

The synonyms instinctive and mechanical are sometimes interchangeable, but instinctive stresses action involving neither judgment nor will.

blinking is an instinctive reaction

When is spontaneous a more appropriate choice than mechanical?

Although the words spontaneous and mechanical have much in common, spontaneous implies lack of prompting and connotes naturalness.

a spontaneous burst of applause

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of mechanical

At sunrise in Manhattan on a recent morning, Anthony J. Martin jumped out of a garbage truck and gave a thumbs up for the driver to lower a set of red mechanical arms to pick up a trash bin from the street. —Emma G. Fitzsimmons, New York Times, 2 June 2025

Modern robots can move with incredible agility, mimicking animal locomotion and executing complex tasks with mechanical precision. —James Pikul, The Conversation, 2 June 2025

Lijn’s key move has been to recode the concepts of energy and mechanical movement themselves as female or complexly gendered. —Marina Isgro, Artforum, 1 June 2025

Driving through deep water can also affect a vehicle's mechanical and electrical systems. —Nc Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 23 May 2025