as in tendency
a habitual attraction to some activity or thing
left to her own devices she'd eat at a fast-food restaurant every night of the week
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Recent Examples of devices
In September, a swarm of Russian drones flew into Poland's airspace, prompting NATO aircraft to scramble to intercept them and shoot down some of the devices.
—
Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, Arkansas Online, 6 Feb. 2026
The countries announced a framework for the agreement in November, saying Argentina would ease restrictions on a range of American imports, including cattle, dairy products, medicines, chemicals, machinery, medical devices and vehicles.
—Isabel Debre, Los Angeles Times, 6 Feb. 2026
The researchers say the method could lead to scalable platforms for adaptive materials used in soft robotics, secure communication, biomedical devices, and advanced manufacturing.
—Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 6 Feb. 2026
Several prominent Russians have been killed by explosive devices or shot dead in Moscow in attacks blamed on the Ukrainian security services since the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
—Anna Chernova, CNN Money, 6 Feb. 2026
These mobile devices disrupt classroom lessons, distract students from learning, and facilitate cyberbullying.
—Alexandra Simon, CBS News, 5 Feb. 2026
Drivers from the ‘60s and ‘70s, from Jack Brabham to Graham Hill and Jim Clark, were all documented to have worn and used their Breitling watches as timing devices.
—Blake Buettner, Robb Report, 5 Feb. 2026
The same has been true of BetVision over the last three seasons, with the product reaching an all-time high in 2025, reaching millions of devices worldwide.
—Steve Bornstein, Sportico.com, 5 Feb. 2026
Across the other devices, both Mac and Wearables, Home & Accessories sales declined year over year, while the market anticipated slight growth.
—Jeff Marks, CNBC, 30 Jan. 2026
Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, Arkansas Online, 6 Feb. 2026
The countries announced a framework for the agreement in November, saying Argentina would ease restrictions on a range of American imports, including cattle, dairy products, medicines, chemicals, machinery, medical devices and vehicles.
—Isabel Debre, Los Angeles Times, 6 Feb. 2026
The researchers say the method could lead to scalable platforms for adaptive materials used in soft robotics, secure communication, biomedical devices, and advanced manufacturing.
—Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 6 Feb. 2026
Several prominent Russians have been killed by explosive devices or shot dead in Moscow in attacks blamed on the Ukrainian security services since the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
—Anna Chernova, CNN Money, 6 Feb. 2026
These mobile devices disrupt classroom lessons, distract students from learning, and facilitate cyberbullying.
—Alexandra Simon, CBS News, 5 Feb. 2026
Drivers from the ‘60s and ‘70s, from Jack Brabham to Graham Hill and Jim Clark, were all documented to have worn and used their Breitling watches as timing devices.
—Blake Buettner, Robb Report, 5 Feb. 2026
The same has been true of BetVision over the last three seasons, with the product reaching an all-time high in 2025, reaching millions of devices worldwide.
—Steve Bornstein, Sportico.com, 5 Feb. 2026
Across the other devices, both Mac and Wearables, Home & Accessories sales declined year over year, while the market anticipated slight growth.
—Jeff Marks, CNBC, 30 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for devices
Noun
-
If readers are at all uncertain of his sociopathic tendencies, Heathcliff then hangs his wife’s dog.—
Natasha O'Neill,
Vanity Fair,
13 Feb. 2026
-
The Turkish experience also speaks to the tendency of diasporas to become politically frozen at the moment of departure from their home countries.—
Michael Paarlberg,
The Conversation,
12 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
In the era of collaboration, globalization, and entrepreneurship, EQ surpassed IQ as the must-have aptitude for an interconnected world.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
3 Feb. 2026
-
The Broncos expect Stidham to play well given his mental aptitude, preparation and personality.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
22 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
This is because when people lose weight, the body’s natural inclination is to return to its previous weight – a phenomenon called metabolic adaptation.—
Amy J. Sheer,
The Conversation,
5 Feb. 2026
-
The 11 satellites on board are flying to a mid-inclination orbit.—
Richard Tribou,
The Orlando Sentinel,
30 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The Athletic Club Oakland was a haven for sports-lovers of all affinities.—
John Metcalfe,
Mercury News,
11 Feb. 2026
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Chris and Mike have always supported their kids’ affinity for the game and often put on a realistic lens.—
Lea Veloso,
StyleCaster,
8 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
By cutting so much of Brontë’s sprawling novel down to the quick, by focusing so squarely on just Cathy and Heathcliff, we’re trapped only in the immediacy of their doomed affection, which is never allowed to be hot enough to make the entire effort come together, let alone come undone.—
Kate Erbland,
IndieWire,
9 Feb. 2026
-
The psychonauts have a deep affection for the models, and the Summit Bridge exercise moved Nostalgebraist to publish an indignant post.—
Gideon Lewis-Kraus,
New Yorker,
9 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
We should be asked how our youth retain the impulse to be free when trigger-happy Israeli soldiers and snipers are ordered to kill unarmed children demanding their human rights.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
11 Feb. 2026
-
What remains is a story narrowed to its most immediate impulses.—
Ana Gutierrez,
Austin American Statesman,
11 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Internal affairs investigations are sent to the police chief for final disposition.—
Matthew Cupelli,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
9 Feb. 2026
-
Quenneville, who is in his first year with the Ducks, praised LaCombe’s disposition and saw his mild manner matter-of-factly, expressing confidence in his ability to handle the bright lights of the Olympic stage.—
Andrew Knoll,
Oc Register,
8 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Devices.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/devices. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
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