Synonym Chooser

How is the word appliance different from other nouns like it?

Some common synonyms of appliance are implement, instrument, tool, and utensil. While all these words mean "a relatively simple device for performing work," appliance refers to a tool or instrument utilizing a power source and suggests portability or temporary attachment.

household appliances

When is implement a more appropriate choice than appliance?

In some situations, the words implement and appliance are roughly equivalent. However, implement may apply to anything necessary to perform a task.

crude stone implements
farm implements

When can instrument be used instead of appliance?

Although the words instrument and appliance have much in common, instrument suggests a device capable of delicate or precise work.

the dentist's instruments

How do tool and implement relate to one another, in the sense of appliance?

Tool suggests an implement adapted to facilitate a definite kind or stage of work and suggests the need of skill more strongly than implement.

a carpenter's tools

When would utensil be a good substitute for appliance?

While the synonyms utensil and appliance are close in meaning, utensil applies to a device used in domestic work or some routine unskilled activity.

kitchen utensils

Examples 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 appliance Sub-Zero and Bosch appliances line the custom SieMatic kitchen, which is complemented by the original (and restored) butler’s pantry. Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 22 Jan. 2025 Editors’ Picks 10 Gut Myths, Corrected Are Dental X-Rays Safe? Disconnect appliances and electronics to avoid damage from electrical surges or spikes when power returns. Jenny Gross, New York Times, 21 Jan. 2025 For starters, its mid-century modern aesthetic proves that even bulky appliances can deliver on style. Nashia Baker, Architectural Digest, 21 Jan. 2025 Even the best appliances break from time to time, and buying a new one every time something goes wrong isn't practical. Kamron Sanders, Better Homes & Gardens, 18 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for appliance 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for appliance
Noun
  • Who can resist a gadget, especially one that takes us back to the heady days of the Sony Walkman cassette player?
    Mark Sparrow, Forbes, 22 Jan. 2025
  • This week's quiz features groundbreaking gadgets, Southern staples and much more.
    Sydney Borchers, Fox News, 19 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • Related Articles Fendi will kick off its centenary year with a coed fashion show during Milan Fashion Week in February, with Silvia Venturini Fendi, artistic director of accessories and menswear collections, leading the design effort.
    Luisa Zargani, WWD, 16 Jan. 2025
  • Alternative Accessories by Vertigo Established in Phoenix, Arizona and based in New York City, Vertigo is an accessories label with an unwavering focus on timeless appeal through versatility and individuality.
    Angela Lei, Forbes, 16 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • Because there’s no active crane hunting season — sandhills aren’t even defined as a game bird in the state — farmers are left with two options.
    Andrew McKean, Outdoor Life, 17 Jan. 2025
  • The situation left no option for customers except to wait until SpaceX investigated and fixed the issues.
    Wendy Whitman Cobb, The Conversation, 16 Jan. 2025

Thesaurus Entries Near appliance

Cite this Entry

“Appliance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/appliance. Accessed 30 Jan. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on appliance

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