mechanical

adjective

mi-ˈka-ni-kəl How to pronounce mechanical (audio)
Definition of mechanicalnext
1
as in automatic
done instantly and without conscious thought or decision the waiter's mechanical reply of "Everything on the menu is good"

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in unnatural
lacking in natural or spontaneous quality a somewhat mechanical vocal performance

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word mechanical distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of mechanical are automatic, impulsive, instinctive, and spontaneous. While all these words mean "acting or activated without deliberation," mechanical stresses the lifeless, often perfunctory character of the response.

a mechanical teaching method

When might automatic be a better fit than mechanical?

While in some cases nearly identical to mechanical, automatic implies action engaging neither the mind nor the emotions and connotes a predictable response.

his denial was automatic

When would impulsive be a good substitute for mechanical?

While the synonyms impulsive and mechanical are close in meaning, impulsive implies acting under stress of emotion or spirit of the moment.

impulsive acts of violence

When can instinctive be used instead of mechanical?

The synonyms instinctive and mechanical are sometimes interchangeable, but instinctive stresses action involving neither judgment nor will.

blinking is an instinctive reaction

When is spontaneous a more appropriate choice than mechanical?

Although the words spontaneous and mechanical have much in common, spontaneous implies lack of prompting and connotes naturalness.

a spontaneous burst of applause

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 mechanical To an extent, some of the rapid moves in financial markets may be mechanical, feeding off of each other. —Jesse Pound, CNBC, 12 Apr. 2025 The pieces are then fed into the company’s proprietary thermal mechanical recycling process. —Jennifer Bringle, Sourcing Journal, 11 Apr. 2025 As a result, shifting some wood from the end of the barrel to the sweet spot will not make the bat more powerful, Lloyd Smith, a mechanical engineer who studies ball-bat collisions at Washington State University, told me. —Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 10 Apr. 2025 Scott Taylor, lead mechanical engineer for manufacturer Lockheed Martin, put the effort in perspective in a 2023 news release. —Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 10 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for mechanical
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mechanical
  1. automatic
  2. unnatural
  3. robotic
  4. mock
  5. mechanic
  6. strained
  7. reflex
  8. artificial
Adjective
  • This opens up the possibility of Wycombe either clinching automatic promotion before their two rivals play, or the door being prised open for either Wrexham or Charlton to nip through and set up a nerve-wracking final day.
    — Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 19 Apr. 2025
  • Congress tried to address this issue by passing the Child Citizenship Act in 2000, which grants automatic citizenship to international adoptees.
    — Juliana Kim, NPR, 19 Apr. 2025
Definition of automatic
Adjective
  • In an alternative '90s, dark waters from the underground scientific facility have risen to flood the town and deliver a menagerie of natural and unnatural nightmares.
    — Jeff Spry, Space.com, 11 Apr. 2025
  • In this type of thinking, the desire to be alone is seen as unnatural and unhealthy, something to be pitied or feared rather than valued or encouraged.
    — Virginia Thomas, The Conversation, 4 Apr. 2025
Definition of unnatural
Adjective
  • Boston Dynamics is at it again, wowing us with some seriously cool robotic moves.
    — Kurt Knutsson, CyberGuy Report, FOXNews.com, 9 Apr. 2025
  • Or mostly robotic, at least—the fruit flies the researchers used would occasionally go their own way, despite strong inducements to stay with the program.
    — John Timmer, ArsTechnica, 9 Apr. 2025
Definition of robotic
Adjective
  • Without further ado, here is the sixth iteration of mock drafts, with this being the mock draft just before the final one, which will be put out on the day of the draft.
    — Nicholas Creel, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Apr. 2025
  • Here’s our latest projections, in the Star-Telegram’s mock draft 2.0: FIRST ROUND 1.
    — Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 18 Apr. 2025
Definition of mock
Adjective
  • In the footage, a large coastal carpet python rests on a mechanic shop's floor.
    — Kelli Bender, People.com, 12 Mar. 2025
  • His current mechanic shop is basically a retirement hobby, something to pass the time.
    — Zach Helfand, The New Yorker, 10 Mar. 2025
Definition of mechanic
Adjective
  • While petty revenge can be amusing—and satisfying in the moment—Best suggested a different approach to dealing with strained neighbor relationships.
    — Gordon G. Chang, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Apr. 2025
  • Throughout the series, the strained relationship between father and son highlights the repercussions of family communication breakdowns.
    — Laurel Donnellan, Forbes.com, 8 Apr. 2025
Definition of strained
Adjective
  • But ultimately, the week ended with a pretty good array of extremes in selling pressure and hedging demand of the sort that should turn the risk-reward more favorable for a reflex bounce before too long.
    — Michael Santoli, CNBC, 5 Apr. 2025
  • The reflex reaction would be to suggest that without Stiller and Goretzka, Germany lost control in midfield.
    — Manuel Veth, Forbes, 23 Mar. 2025
Definition of reflex
Adjective
  • No more tight ringlets—only soft, unfurled, velvety hair that moved with the artificial grace of a shampoo commercial actress who's probably wearing extensions anyway.
    — Liz Krieger, Allure, 15 Apr. 2025
  • Bees are said to be more drawn to feeders featuring yellow parts, such as artificial flowers or bee guards, says Witko.
    — Arricca Elin SanSone, Southern Living, 14 Apr. 2025
Definition of artificial

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mechanic
mechanical
mechanics
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Cite this Entry

“Mechanical.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mechanical. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.

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