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

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 utensil Like most serious barbecue aficionados, Cook eschewed utensils. Rachel Monroe, The New Yorker, 22 Feb. 2025 The utensils are dishwasher-safe and come with a holder for easy storage. Nora Colomer, Fox News, 12 Feb. 2025 How to Remove Turmeric Stains from Dishes and Utensils Stubborn turmeric stains can linger on dishes and utensils, even after a trip through the dishwasher. Jolie Kerr, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Mar. 2025 The kitchen also comes with accessories, such as cups, plates, utensils and a frying pan. Bestreviews, The Mercury News, 27 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for utensil
Recent Examples of Synonyms for utensil
Noun
  • Health care leaders argue that the lack of funding for the IHS limits improvement to medical tools and systems, which affects the quality of care.
    Solcyré Burga, TIME, 21 Mar. 2025
  • Shedding tools for cats FAQ What shedding tool works best for long-haired cats? A.
    BestReviews, Chicago Tribune, 21 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • These range from counseling to lifestyle changes to medications to devices to surgery.
    Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes, 17 Mar. 2025
  • But the game’s biggest achievement lies in its success as a time travel story, a narrative device that’s — more often than not — hard to do right.
    Hayes Madsen, Rolling Stone, 16 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • The Firefly Aerospace’s Blue Ghost lunar lander arrived on the moon on March 2 to deliver a suite of science and technology instruments, according to NASA.
    Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 20 Mar. 2025
  • The filing also includes details on the company's financial instruments, borrowings, and legal proceedings, with no significant changes reported in these areas.
    Quartz Intelligence Newsroom, Quartz, 20 Mar. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Utensil.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/utensil. Accessed 31 Mar. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on utensil

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