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Synonym Chooser

How is the word mechanical distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of mechanical are automatic, impulsive, instinctive, and spontaneous. While all these words mean "acting or activated without deliberation," mechanical stresses the lifeless, often perfunctory character of the response.

a mechanical teaching method

When might automatic be a better fit than mechanical?

While in some cases nearly identical to mechanical, automatic implies action engaging neither the mind nor the emotions and connotes a predictable response.

his denial was automatic

When would impulsive be a good substitute for mechanical?

While the synonyms impulsive and mechanical are close in meaning, impulsive implies acting under stress of emotion or spirit of the moment.

impulsive acts of violence

When can instinctive be used instead of mechanical?

The synonyms instinctive and mechanical are sometimes interchangeable, but instinctive stresses action involving neither judgment nor will.

blinking is an instinctive reaction

When is spontaneous a more appropriate choice than mechanical?

Although the words spontaneous and mechanical have much in common, spontaneous implies lack of prompting and connotes naturalness.

a spontaneous burst of applause

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of mechanical Its mechanical legs resemble a Star Wars stormtrooper while its humanoid design, featuring extended coil arms and over-resilient survival adaptability, is both awesome and a little frightening — mankind’s extinction made cute. Armond White, National Review, 26 Feb. 2025 The airline did not immediately specify what kind of mechanical issue is believed to have occurred. Stephen Sorace, Fox News, 25 Feb. 2025 Like the fp before it, the BF uses a fully electronic shutter without mechanical curtains. Jim Fisher, PCMAG, 24 Feb. 2025 In 2023, more than 200 passengers were stuck at a military base in remote Canada for over 21 hours after a Delta flight traveling from Amsterdam to Detroit, Michigan, experienced a mechanical issue and needed to make an emergency landing. Kris Van Cleave, CBS News, 16 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for mechanical
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mechanical
Adjective
  • In one report broadcast on Israel’s Channel 12, Israeli soldiers can be seen working hand in hand with Syrian villagers to collect boxes of artillery rounds, automatic weapons, grenade launchers and other armaments.
    Uriel Heilman, New York Daily News, 2 Mar. 2025
  • The settlement applies to consumers who enrolled in a Streamlabs Pro automatic renewal subscription after adding a GIF or effect to their donation and were then billed a monthly fee for the subscription between March 3, 2018, and May 17, 2022.
    Dan Perry, Newsweek, 1 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Advanced algorithms and neural networks can analyze pixel artifacts, unnatural movements and other subtle audio-visual data inconsistencies to detect deepfakes accurately.
    Dan Yerushalmi, Forbes, 18 Feb. 2025
  • That comes from Reid, according to Kelce, and it’s led an almost unnatural level of calm across the team.
    Kyle Feldscher, CNN, 8 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • The Super Heavy booster successfully returned to its launch site and settled onto the tower’s robotic arms.
    Denise Chow, NBC News, 7 Mar. 2025
  • Cardiologists were unable to obtain catheter supplies, and other surgeons could not get robotic supplies, Koenig wrote in her July report.
    Michelle Marchante, Miami Herald, 4 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • The Athletic's college football reporters conducted a mock draft, which had the Titans taking Miami quarterback Cam Ward.
    Nate Rau, Axios, 26 Feb. 2025
  • There already have been a deluge of mock drafts and prospect rankings.
    Jim Reineking, USA TODAY, 25 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • For example, ads for mechanic positions were predominantly shown to men, while those for preschool teacher roles were primarily directed to women.
    Carlotta Dotto, CNN, 28 Feb. 2025
  • The space, which hosts a coffee shop, is located inside an old mechanic shop.
    Luis Giraldo, CBS News, 22 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • For years, Knight has hinted at Snoop’s alleged jealousy of Tupac, believing that the East Coast-West Coast rivalry and personal tensions led to strained relationships within their inner circle.
    Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 25 Feb. 2025
  • State of play: DeSantis and Trump have long had a strained relationship.
    Ivana Saric, Axios, 24 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • Engineered to deliver booming bass at all volume levels, the speaker sports dual 58mm tweeters, a 165mm bass driver, a bass reflex tube and BlueAnt’s signature psycho-acoustic bass.
    Mark Sparrow, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2025
  • Common triggers include dehydration from illness, vasovagal syncope—a reflex response to nausea or pain—abnormal heart rhythms, and heart valve conditions such as aortic stenosis.
    Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 6 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • The space station’s microbiome represents an artificial extreme.
    Lauren Leffer, Popular Science, 27 Feb. 2025
  • But stuck in the middle tier are 150 countries that must endure artificial limits on computing supply chains that are kept at least a generation behind US technology accessible by the top tier.
    Ashley Belanger, Ars Technica, 27 Feb. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Mechanical.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mechanical. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on mechanical

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