1
as in devices
an article intended for use in work
needed a special tool to open the case of the appliance
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in pawns
one that is or can be used to further the purposes of another
a ruthless leader using his trusting followers as tools in his quest for power
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in suckers
one who is easily deceived or cheated
you're just a pathetic tool of the advertising industry if you believe everything you see in TV commercials
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of tools
Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 29 Jan. 2026
Leadership teams are looking for the next initiative, and yet employees may be overwhelmed by a plethora of health tools, programs and perks.
—Serenity Gibbons, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
Through careful study of foreign films, Korean filmmakers developed the tools to express their own unique voices and cultural perspectives.
—Literary Hub, 29 Jan. 2026
Unlike standard credentials that often rely on one-time exams, this new system integrates directly with the software tools themselves.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 28 Jan. 2026
In fact, breathable bags of activated charcoal are one of Palmer's go-to tools for banishing bad smells.
—Kate Van Pelt, The Spruce, 22 Jan. 2026
Since the film is a little over 90 minutes, our street-smart Detective Raven, who has relied on his gut and the terrifyingly invasive AI tools throughout the trial, is finally liberated from the chair in the third act, as the twisty-turny tale morphs into an attack on Mercy itself.
—Katie Walsh, Boston Herald, 22 Jan. 2026
Angela Caraway-Carlton, Miami Herald, 4 Oct. 2025
Many employees may not be aware of the dangers associated with feeding GenAI tools sensitive data.
—Camellia Chan, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
Other introspective angles are explored during Mariano’s audiences with his friend the Pope (Rufin Doh Zeyenouin), a serene Black man with a head crowned by a bundle of silver dreads, who tools around the Vatican on a motorbike.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 27 Aug. 2025
Noun
Browsing gets assistant Gemini in Chrome introduces new creative tools as well.
—Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 29 Jan. 2026
Leadership teams are looking for the next initiative, and yet employees may be overwhelmed by a plethora of health tools, programs and perks.
—Serenity Gibbons, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
Through careful study of foreign films, Korean filmmakers developed the tools to express their own unique voices and cultural perspectives.
—Literary Hub, 29 Jan. 2026
Unlike standard credentials that often rely on one-time exams, this new system integrates directly with the software tools themselves.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 28 Jan. 2026
In fact, breathable bags of activated charcoal are one of Palmer's go-to tools for banishing bad smells.
—Kate Van Pelt, The Spruce, 22 Jan. 2026
Since the film is a little over 90 minutes, our street-smart Detective Raven, who has relied on his gut and the terrifyingly invasive AI tools throughout the trial, is finally liberated from the chair in the third act, as the twisty-turny tale morphs into an attack on Mercy itself.
—Katie Walsh, Boston Herald, 22 Jan. 2026
Verb
Guests staying at the Beach Club have indulgent perks like a complimentary 15-minute ride on the adorable Sorbetto Fiat boat that tools around Lake Boca.
—Angela Caraway-Carlton, Miami Herald, 4 Oct. 2025
Many employees may not be aware of the dangers associated with feeding GenAI tools sensitive data.
—Camellia Chan, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
Other introspective angles are explored during Mariano’s audiences with his friend the Pope (Rufin Doh Zeyenouin), a serene Black man with a head crowned by a bundle of silver dreads, who tools around the Vatican on a motorbike.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 27 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tools
Noun
-
Federal investigators in Guam believed the devices held evidence that would help prove individuals handling the island’s Covid unemployment assistance program were part of a plot to steal funds.—
Thomas Brewster,
Forbes.com,
23 Jan. 2026
-
With an undeletable presence embedded in the firmware of more than 600 million enterprise devices, Absolute delivers persistent visibility, control, and auto-repair capabilities that operate even when systems fail.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
22 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
In his addled mind, the millions of people in these cities who depend on federal funds for health, transit, education and whatever else are only pawns in a broader struggle to consolidate his own authority by any means necessary.—
New York Daily News Editorial Board,
New York Daily News,
15 Jan. 2026
-
Wembanyama’s Spurs moved the first few pawns.—
Joel Lorenzi,
New York Times,
14 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Additionally, prune any dead branches, thorny suckers, and any branches that may be touching the ground.—
SJ McShane,
Martha Stewart,
2 Jan. 2026
-
Begin by removing any suckers at the base of the tree, side shoots on the trunk, crossing or crooked branches, dead or damaged branches, those that are growing inward, and crowded branches.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
31 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
So, say some small-time businessmen hire a truck through a dispatcher, the truck drives up to a field, and there, along the perimeter, a forklift crane pulls the pipe up from the sand.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
23 Jan. 2026
-
James said winning, not headlines, stories or podcasts, is what drives him, now in his unprecedented 23rd NBA season.—
Janis Carr,
Oc Register,
23 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Designed for spinal and orthopedic procedures, Dynamis features a multi-arm architecture that mimics human bimanual workflows, allowing surgeons to position instruments with sub-millimeter accuracy.—
Kaif Shaikh,
Interesting Engineering,
8 Jan. 2026
-
The album’s maximalist approach, combining an array of live instruments, VSTs, and samplers, sometimes coheres into true jams.—
H.D. Angel,
Pitchfork,
7 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Court documents in the federal prosecution of the employee, Jacob Melvin Hart, indicate there could be more juvenile victims from Crossline Community Church.—
Tony Saavedra,
Oc Register,
24 Jan. 2026
-
All three victims were shot and killed outside the Sky Market on 85th Avenue and International Boulevard, allegedly after the brothers attempted to purchase marijuana from another person who was at the store, authorities said.—
Nate Gartrell,
Mercury News,
24 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Tools.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tools. Accessed 29 Jan. 2026.
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