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
Early warning is rudimentary and community liaison mechanisms are flimsy.
—
Obi Anyadike, semafor.com, 26 Jan. 2026
States without their own exchanges can still offer ACA subsidies, but would do so using another mechanism, Norris said.
—Mary Cunningham, CBS News, 26 Jan. 2026
All indications are the Heat would be allowed to include his salary in a trade as a cap-balancing mechanism, with Rozier remaining on NBA leave.
—Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 26 Jan. 2026
When codeine was first isolated from the opium poppy, in 1832, scientists understood that it was chemically related to morphine but believed that the two drugs worked through different mechanisms.
—Ben Taub, New Yorker, 26 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for mechanism
Obi Anyadike, semafor.com, 26 Jan. 2026
States without their own exchanges can still offer ACA subsidies, but would do so using another mechanism, Norris said.
—Mary Cunningham, CBS News, 26 Jan. 2026
All indications are the Heat would be allowed to include his salary in a trade as a cap-balancing mechanism, with Rozier remaining on NBA leave.
—Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 26 Jan. 2026
When codeine was first isolated from the opium poppy, in 1832, scientists understood that it was chemically related to morphine but believed that the two drugs worked through different mechanisms.
—Ben Taub, New Yorker, 26 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for mechanism
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mechanism
Noun
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Over the course of several years, the company tested the apparatus about 200,000 times to achieve the right effect, culminating in a patented design.—
Justin Fenner,
Robb Report,
31 Jan. 2026
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The fall of the ayatollah could empower the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, or IRGC, a powerful branch of Iran’s security apparatus that operates independently of the nation’s armed forces.—
Vivian Salama,
The Atlantic,
30 Jan. 2026
Noun
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No modern industrial narrative would be complete without Elon Musk, whose ventures span autonomous systems, space infrastructure, energy storage, and neural interfaces.—
Phil Kafarakis,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
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Aviation officials made strides to change military helicopter flight path rules around Washington, DC, and later promised a new air traffic control system would be implemented during the current presidential administration to support aviation safety.—
Alexandra Skores,
CNN Money,
27 Jan. 2026
Noun
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That restriction has limited what microscopic devices can do.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
29 Jan. 2026
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Like all WiiM speakers, the Sound Lite can be used as a standalone device or paired with with devices like WiiM Sound, WiiM Amps, WiiM Streamers and the WiiM Sub Pro, creating a true stereo setup with separate left and right channels.—
Mark Sparrow,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Other agencies that currently rely on the VSL in areas from highway safety to consumer product regulation ought to revisit whether their methods truly serve the public interest.—
James Broughel,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
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Vote as many times as you’d like until then without using bots or any other artificial methods of voting.—
Christian Babcock,
Mercury News,
26 Jan. 2026
Noun
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This launch represents a significant step toward turning robots into universal, upgradable machines capable of performing diverse tasks in homes and workplaces.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
30 Jan. 2026
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The firm’s iconic yellow machines are deployed across several industries and regions, so its sales can signal either strong global industrial activity or slowing economic growth.—
Bloomberg Wire,
Dallas Morning News,
29 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Much of our concern about climate change and reproduction is rooted in the idea that reproduction is one of the first processes to fail under stress.—
Melissa Cristina Márquez,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
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However, not everyone agrees that price discovery - the process of establishing a market price at which demand and supply for an item are matched - has collapsed altogether.—
Lee Ying Shan,
CNBC,
29 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Gardening Tools Garden tools should be cleaned after every use to remove fungi, bacteria, and pests that can be transferred to healthy plants.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
The Spruce,
9 Jan. 2026
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And keep your in-flight essentials like headphones, sleep mask, e-reader, and other tech tools together in your personal item that stays with you at the seat rather than in the overhead bin.—
Alesandra Dubin,
Travel + Leisure,
9 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Disciplinary procedure documents shared with the Washington Examiner show that Goldis received several warnings from her higher-ups to stop speaking critically about the PGM sector.—
Mia Cathell,
The Washington Examiner,
31 Jan. 2026
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The search of the backpack would have also been standard procedure, officers said.—
Alexa Herrera,
CBS News,
30 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Mechanism.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mechanism. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.
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