as in concocts
to create or think of by clever use of the imagination
she quickly devised a new scheme when the first one failed
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Recent Examples of devises
As the doppelganger charms the internet and devises a nefarious plot to replace mankind with brainrot, Shiori must partner with other online outcasts to stop her digital counterpart and reclaim her life in the real world.
—
Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 5 Feb. 2026
In the past, Cooper — who seems to have finally reconciled with his wife, Barb (Frances Turner) — devises a plan to stop the ongoing wars over power with Congresswoman Welch to get the cold fusion diode into the hands of the President of the United States (played by series newcomer Clancy Brown).
—Lauren Huff, Entertainment Weekly, 28 Jan. 2026
Tiffany Bendayan, a chef and baker in Miami, devises different ways to make the table a space where her daughters—Emily and Sofia—feel comfortable sharing just about anything.
—Karen Cicero, Parents, 21 Dec. 2025
Odysseus, the Ithacan warrior who is as celebrated for craftiness as Achilles is for brute strength, devises a clever ruse in which the Greeks place a giant wooden horse outside Troy’s walls and pretend to sail away.
—Elizabeth D. Samet, Foreign Affairs, 29 Oct. 2025
Anime giant Crunchyroll has partnered with Luminopia, a digital health company that devises new treatments for significant neuro-visual disorders, for a new VR treatment for kids with lazy eye (amblyopia).
—Tony Maglio, HollywoodReporter, 28 Oct. 2025
No one wants to give up on Erica, especially Uhura, who devises a plan to send another shuttle through the wormhole to rescue Erica.
—Keith Phipps, Vulture, 4 Sep. 2025
Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 5 Feb. 2026
In the past, Cooper — who seems to have finally reconciled with his wife, Barb (Frances Turner) — devises a plan to stop the ongoing wars over power with Congresswoman Welch to get the cold fusion diode into the hands of the President of the United States (played by series newcomer Clancy Brown).
—Lauren Huff, Entertainment Weekly, 28 Jan. 2026
Tiffany Bendayan, a chef and baker in Miami, devises different ways to make the table a space where her daughters—Emily and Sofia—feel comfortable sharing just about anything.
—Karen Cicero, Parents, 21 Dec. 2025
Odysseus, the Ithacan warrior who is as celebrated for craftiness as Achilles is for brute strength, devises a clever ruse in which the Greeks place a giant wooden horse outside Troy’s walls and pretend to sail away.
—Elizabeth D. Samet, Foreign Affairs, 29 Oct. 2025
Anime giant Crunchyroll has partnered with Luminopia, a digital health company that devises new treatments for significant neuro-visual disorders, for a new VR treatment for kids with lazy eye (amblyopia).
—Tony Maglio, HollywoodReporter, 28 Oct. 2025
No one wants to give up on Erica, especially Uhura, who devises a plan to send another shuttle through the wormhole to rescue Erica.
—Keith Phipps, Vulture, 4 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for devises
Verb
-
The administration concocts a legal rationale for a foreign policy objective.—
Editorial Board,
Washington Post,
5 Jan. 2026
-
Executive pastry chef Jess Robertson, Ian’s wife, concocts desserts ranging from $4 oatmeal cream pies to $100 banana splits.—
Mary LeBus,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
15 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Man-su, wanting an accurate sense of his competition, invents a fake job opportunity and puts out a call for applicants.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
23 Dec. 2025
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That said, if Stacey can continue to show up as GNA invents new reasons to exist every season, the women could have shown up to the company break-room party that Stacey called a grand opening.—
Shamira Ibrahim,
Vulture,
8 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Carpenter constructs her own boyfriend out of Pringles potato chips in the quirky ad.—
Hannah Malach,
InStyle,
4 Feb. 2026
-
In the feminine symbolism of the flower and the Hello Kitty doll—and the myriad bracelets, hearts, and other items affixed to each canvas—Echard constructs her figure’s gender as a tangled, blurry, and tactile exchange between the body and its surroundings.—
Theo Belci,
Artforum,
1 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Devises.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/devises. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
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