Synonym Chooser

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

Some common synonyms of utensil are appliance, implement, instrument, and tool. While all these words mean "a relatively simple device for performing work," utensil applies to a device used in domestic work or some routine unskilled activity.

kitchen utensils

When is appliance a more appropriate choice than utensil?

While the synonyms appliance and utensil are close in meaning, appliance refers to a tool or instrument utilizing a power source and suggests portability or temporary attachment.

household appliances

When would implement be a good substitute for utensil?

The words implement and utensil can be used in similar contexts, but implement may apply to anything necessary to perform a task.

crude stone implements
farm implements

When might instrument be a better fit than utensil?

While in some cases nearly identical to utensil, 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 utensil?

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

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 utensil It was found within the pylon’s north tower, and is thought to have been used for the storage of utensils and subsequently amphorae. Francesca Aton, ARTnews.com, 27 Nov. 2024 Encourage employees to adopt sustainable practices by replacing disposable utensils and containers with compostable or reusable alternatives. Richard Razgaitis, Forbes, 26 Nov. 2024 These days, no one will fault the host for opting for disposable dishes and utensils that make clean-up significantly easier. Hallie Milstein, Southern Living, 21 Nov. 2024 As the economy boomed, manufacturers seized on plastics’ potential, and soon, plastic toys, plastic utensils, and even plastic furniture became fixtures in daily life. David Carlin, Forbes, 6 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for utensil 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for utensil
Noun
  • The question is whether the convenience of these tools is worth the risk of occasionally shaky results.
    David Nield, WIRED, 9 Dec. 2024
  • Mayor Bloomberg issued 465 executive orders in three terms, including 345 emergency orders chiefly related to an enduring strike of some bus lines and Hurricane Sandy, records show Before that the tool was used more sparingly and rarely for emergencies, archival records show.
    Graham Rayman, New York Daily News, 9 Dec. 2024
Noun
  • On average, each home has around 17 smart devices, and many people own electric vehicles.
    Ken Silverstein, Forbes, 16 Dec. 2024
  • The problem comes in when one user has an iPhone and the other has an Android device or if there is a group chat with both kinds of users.
    Ken Colburn, The Arizona Republic, 16 Dec. 2024
Noun
  • Swift, who performs some songs on the piano and some on the guitar at most of her concerts, was ready to play when the instrument suddenly made a noise.
    Paul Du Quenoy, Newsweek, 9 Dec. 2024
  • Some, like Kouyaté, play a xylophone-like instrument called the balafon.
    Eliot Stein, Rolling Stone, 9 Dec. 2024

Thesaurus Entries Near utensil

Cite this Entry

“Utensil.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/utensil. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on utensil

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