1
as in apparatus
a mechanical part or group of parts used to perform a specific task
The printer's paper feeding mechanism is jammed.
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2
as in system
a series of actions used to achieve an end
She was stunned to learn that there was no mechanism in place to remedy the problem.
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of mechanism
At the direction of the Legislature, the state has been studying whether Medicaid billing would be an appropriate funding mechanism for the Vail Communities Clubhouses, an idea that’s been discussed for the past 10 years.
—
Frederick Melo, Twin Cities, 19 Apr. 2026
Start installing the new lock by inserting the latch mechanism.
—Cody Godwin, USA Today, 19 Apr. 2026
As opposed to it being imposed upon them in Texas and in Missouri and in North Carolina, which proved to be wildly unpopular but Republican politicians ignored the will of the people in those states and put in place these mechanisms.
—CBS News, 19 Apr. 2026
But the answer to a bad rollout is better rules — mandatory additional and dedicated funding, clear accountability — not a permanent ban on the mechanism itself.
—Haylee Rea, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for mechanism
Frederick Melo, Twin Cities, 19 Apr. 2026
Start installing the new lock by inserting the latch mechanism.
—Cody Godwin, USA Today, 19 Apr. 2026
As opposed to it being imposed upon them in Texas and in Missouri and in North Carolina, which proved to be wildly unpopular but Republican politicians ignored the will of the people in those states and put in place these mechanisms.
—CBS News, 19 Apr. 2026
But the answer to a bad rollout is better rules — mandatory additional and dedicated funding, clear accountability — not a permanent ban on the mechanism itself.
—Haylee Rea, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for mechanism
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mechanism
Noun
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Farej said Wednesday that safety concerns escalated since House became mayor in May, as the village has failed to take action on issues such as broken apparatus and equipment.—
Olivia Stevens,
Chicago Tribune,
9 Apr. 2026
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When the British colonial apparatus first attempted to count India’s population in 1872, the survey asked was a list of 17 questions covering basic markers like age, religion and occupation.—
Rhea Mogul,
CNN Money,
7 Apr. 2026
Noun
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After that, global income is fully taxable, a sharp break from the previous system that allowed wealth to remain offshore indefinitely.—
Emma Graham,Sawdah Bhaimiya,
CNBC,
21 Apr. 2026
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The most practical innovation that Lightning brought to the race was joints equipped with a liquid-cooling system adapted from Honor’s smartphones.—
Steve Henson,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Adams was released from jail after posting a $225,000 bond but is required to wear an electronic monitoring device, local media reported.—
Louis Casiano,
FOXNews.com,
22 Apr. 2026
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That air purifier is still on, every filter change a reminder that nothing about the device, designed to keep me safe, is recyclable.—
Abigail Stone,
HollywoodReporter,
22 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Officials worked with Mi’kmaw archaeological technicians alongside both underwater and terrestrial archaeologists to excavate and document the wreck, adapting their methods to Sable Island's shifting sands.—
Andrea Margolis,
FOXNews.com,
20 Apr. 2026
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This design enables use across a range of environments—from outdoor gatherings to event spaces—where traditional wine cooling methods may be impractical or inconsistent.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
20 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The force of the crash caused an ice machine, located inside the store, to fall and hit a 71-year-old customer, police said.—
Jose Fabian,
CBS News,
23 Apr. 2026
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Building parity with humans is a challenge A humanoid robot ran faster than the human world record in a half-marathon race for robots in Beijing on Sunday, but getting a machine to interact and compete at split-second speeds with skilled human athletes is in some ways a more difficult challenge.—
Matt O’Brien,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Their whole planning process is now built around efficiency and resilience.—
Isaac Chotiner,
New Yorker,
23 Apr. 2026
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LeBron James continues to defy the aging process with a 28-point night.—
Dan Santaromita,
New York Times,
23 Apr. 2026
Noun
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That legislation, pending action from the governor, bans new data centers through November 2027 and creates a new state council to provide strategic input, facilitate planning considerations and evaluate policy tools to address data centers, Maine Morning Star reported.—
Kevin Hardy,
Baltimore Sun,
20 Apr. 2026
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For taller products, like full-size shampoo bottles or styling tools, Kinsella suggests a tiered sliding organizer with an open top to accommodate height.—
Jeaneen Russell,
PEOPLE,
20 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Walker, however, agreed with the majority that the president cannot deport migrants to countries where they will be persecuted or strip them of mandatory procedures that protect against their removal.—
Michael Kunzelman,
Chicago Tribune,
24 Apr. 2026
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Under standard procedure, those who filed a claim against Purdue with the bankruptcy court in the first round — including cities, hospitals and individual opioid victims — were entitled to vote on the new bankruptcy plan.—
Craig R. McCoy,
CNN Money,
24 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Mechanism.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mechanism. Accessed 26 Apr. 2026.
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