ˈ(h)wät-sət
variants
also whatsis
or what-is-it
as in thingamajig
a small article the actual name of which one either does not know or cannot remember
there's always one random whatsit left over every time I put a bookcase together
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 whatsit
Back then, the song was a fast, visionary whatsit, all pulsing, pipe-like synths and simple, buzzing one-bit melodies.
—
Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 16 Mar. 2024
The villain this time around isn’t a person but an all-powerful artificial-intelligence whatsit known as the Entity, which fools a super-advanced Russian submarine into destroying itself in the film’s clever pre-credits sequence.
—Peter Debruge, Variety, 5 July 2023
Disaster strikes when Loretta is kidnaped by eccentric zillionaire Abigail Fairfax (Daniel Radcliffe) who hopes to use her anthropological knowhow to recover an ancient whatsit from a remote jungle island.
—Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 24 Mar. 2022
That’s nothing if not a unique premise, but writer-director Cesar Cabral’s animated whatsit proves more compelling as a concept than as an actual movie.
—Michael Nordine, Variety, 24 Jan. 2022
Equal parts art-house whatsit and car-fetish classic, the film works so well thanks to director Sarafian’s ability to shoot a chase, as well as his feel for the landscape.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 2 July 2021
The numbers of whosits and the intensity of the whatsits really does depend on who is running.
—Chris Stirewalt, Fox News, 24 Aug. 2018
Thirty-seven percent of whosits voting at a greater intensity than 41 percent of whatsits, etc.
—Chris Stirewalt, Fox News, 24 Aug. 2018
Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 16 Mar. 2024
The villain this time around isn’t a person but an all-powerful artificial-intelligence whatsit known as the Entity, which fools a super-advanced Russian submarine into destroying itself in the film’s clever pre-credits sequence.
—Peter Debruge, Variety, 5 July 2023
Disaster strikes when Loretta is kidnaped by eccentric zillionaire Abigail Fairfax (Daniel Radcliffe) who hopes to use her anthropological knowhow to recover an ancient whatsit from a remote jungle island.
—Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 24 Mar. 2022
That’s nothing if not a unique premise, but writer-director Cesar Cabral’s animated whatsit proves more compelling as a concept than as an actual movie.
—Michael Nordine, Variety, 24 Jan. 2022
Equal parts art-house whatsit and car-fetish classic, the film works so well thanks to director Sarafian’s ability to shoot a chase, as well as his feel for the landscape.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 2 July 2021
The numbers of whosits and the intensity of the whatsits really does depend on who is running.
—Chris Stirewalt, Fox News, 24 Aug. 2018
Thirty-seven percent of whosits voting at a greater intensity than 41 percent of whatsits, etc.
—Chris Stirewalt, Fox News, 24 Aug. 2018
Recent Examples of Synonyms for whatsit
Noun
-
Lenovo’s claim appears to be that the Legion 9i can fully cool itself with this method, no thingamajig needed.Monica Chin, The Verge, 1 Sep. 2023
-
Shot in 2021, the film apparently featured a crew of Ukrainian gangsters as the henchmen of Hugh Grant’s billionaire arms dealer antagonist, Greg Simmonds (who is brokering the thingamajig deal).Katie Walsh, Los Angeles Times, 3 Mar. 2023
Noun
-
In fact, one of my abiding pleasures in life is finding small but transformative thingamabobs—frivolous and not at all necessary items that don’t cost much but can make life a bit sparklier, a bit easier, or just a bit sillier.Rachel Syme, The New Yorker, 26 Nov. 2024
-
Want to make a new crypto, or a new crypto thingamabob?Clem Chambers, Forbes, 26 Sep. 2024
Noun
-
Also: how in the name of Philadelphia Flyers hockey legend Bobby Clarke did this show get Gritty, the giant orange whatchamacallit who is the Flyers mascot, as its opening night guest star?Gene Seymour, CNN, 22 Sep. 2022
-
The ranking only includes the 193 breeds that the AKC recognizes, so unfortunately, mixed breeds like maltipoos, goldendoodles and whatchamacallits aren't on it.AJ Willingham, CNN, 9 May 2020
Noun
-
This small doohickey works with Amazon Key In-Garage Delivery, an exclusive Prime member benefit that protects your packages from porch pirates and increment weather.Marc Saltzman, USA TODAY, 17 Dec. 2024
-
These days, though KitchenAid sells all kinds of other doohickeys, the stand mixer is still what the company is known for.Ellen Cushing, The Atlantic, 16 Sep. 2024
Noun
-
The turn that even the most regal of short kings would be promptly discarded for any dingus who looks like Jacob Elordi is the episode’s most successful use of the actor’s appearance as a plot point.Joe Berkowitz, Vulture, 21 Jan. 2024
-
Almost all are some form of dingus.Dan Carson, Chron, 16 Apr. 2021
Noun
-
So there’s been lots and lots documented about my corporate career, about my corporate life, even via my social media and Instagram and whatnot.Victoria Uwumarogie, Essence, 23 Nov. 2024
-
In a day and age where things are more transient and whatnot, that guy put his head down and kept working.Adam Lichtenstein, Sun Sentinel, 12 Sep. 2024
Noun
-
The final piece of the puzzle snaps into place as the gang attends a party thrown by Mac’s friend and former producer Roya (Haven Burton), who happens to own the monkey that gave Mac that embarrassing small-mouth hickey.Sophie Brookover, Vulture, 31 Oct. 2024
-
The suction cups are left on the body somewhere between five to 10 minutes, which is why the circle marks (which are comparable to a bruise… or even a hickey) appear.Margaux Anbouba, Vogue, 3 Aug. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near whatsit
Cite this Entry
“Whatsit.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/whatsit. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share