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What exactly is a contraption?
In the words of one Little Mermaid, “I’ve got gadgets and gizmos a-plenty.” It would have been on-theme (though perhaps a bit clunky) for the aquatic princess to include in her siren song the word contraption. Synonymous with both gadget and gizmo, and widget too, in referring to mechanical and electronic devices, contraption is also one of a raft of terms people reach for when talking about various human-made bits and bobs, whether mechanical or not. (It's thought to have possibly been formed as a blend of contrivance, trap, and invention.) Want more thingamabob words? Try doohickey, thingamajig, dingus, or doodad.
Examples of contraption in a Sentence
Matthew Sherrill, Harper's Magazine, 19 Feb. 2025
The soft rubber organizing slats hold snowboards, alpine skis, Nordic skis, or any combination of snow gear, making this contraption a great alternative to leaning gear against the car’s paint or laying it on a rocky, grimy parking lot surface.
—Lisa Jhung, Outside Online, 13 Jan. 2025
Designed from details in L. Frank Baum’s books, the uniforms, clever contraptions, and circular sets create a sprawling campus where magic feels like an everyday occurrence.
—Monica Mercuri, Forbes, 31 Dec. 2024
Being on a red carpet is already stressful enough for everyone there; that ecosystem doesn’t need a Saw-like contraption that could knock out Chloe Fineman that much.
—Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 25 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for contraption
Cite this Entry
“Contraption.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/contraption. Accessed 14 Mar. 2025.
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contraption
noun
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