paraphernalia

noun

ˌper-ə-fər-ˈnāl-yə How to pronounce paraphernalia (audio)
Definition of paraphernalianext
1
as in equipment
items needed for the performance of a task or activity mountain-climbing paraphernalia

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in possession
transportable items that one owns packed up all of their paraphernalia for the move across the country

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 paraphernalia The volunteers also strapped on high-tech face masks and other scientific paraphernalia to precisely measure metabolic changes. — Gretchen Reynolds, Washington Post, 21 Sep. 2026 Bolduc was arrested and charged with trafficking in fentanyl and possession of drug paraphernalia. — Steven Yablonski, CBS News, 21 Sep. 2026 Joshua Wasson, 25, of Jasper, pleaded guilty in Dubois Circuit Court to one Level 6 felony count of intimidation and misdemeanor charges of possessing marijuana and paraphernalia. — Casey Smith, IndyStar, 9 Sep. 2026 Police said drugs and drug paraphernalia were also recovered during the investigation. — Vince Basada, Sacbee.com, 5 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for paraphernalia
Recent Examples of Synonyms for paraphernalia
  1. equipment
  2. possession
  3. gear
  4. things
  5. apparatus
  6. belongings
  7. stuff
Noun
  • The island becoms a military node Keen Sword will also establish a joint coordination center at the Yonaguni garrison, where Japanese and US forces will conduct island-defense exercises and coordinate with equipment deployed at other locations.
    — Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 4 Oct. 2026
  • Broadly, the idea is that consumers and small shops should have access to the tools, parts and information needed to repair their own electronic devices, farm equipment and cars, among other things.
    — Robert Ferris, CNBC, 3 Oct. 2026
Definition of equipment
Noun
  • The casing is consistent with the same caliber of weapon that Jones had in his possession when police took him into custody, a Fort Worth Police Department homicide unit detective wrote in an arrest warrant affidavit.
    — Emerson Clarridge, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Oct. 2026
  • On August 1, 2025, the day after the lease lapsed, Cathy and Salvatore sued for possession of their home in Manhattan housing court.
    — Matthew Sedacca, Curbed, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of possession
Noun
  • Video first obtained by ABC News shows Coast Guard agents equipped in tactical gear boarding the ship, guns drawn, while a separate Coast Guard boat goes alongside of it.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Today's Walmart Deals of the Day feature epic discounts on high-performance audio gear to make your daily routine a musical masterpiece.
    — Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of gear
Noun
  • After things go awry in the Congo, the family in The Poisonwood Bible dissolves readily.
    — Sam Worley, Vulture, 5 Oct. 2026
  • In some ways, things have changed considerably for Reid over the last year after the television adaptation of her 2019 novel, Heated Rivalry, became a cultural phenomena.
    — Nicole Fell, HollywoodReporter, 4 Oct. 2026
Definition of things
Noun
  • The blades were smaller then, the towers shorter, the whole apparatus closer to a windmill than the hulking machines erected today—the tallest of which exceed 300 meters, with rotor blades longer than a football field.
    — Sam Birchall, Fortune, 2 Oct. 2026
  • While the apparatus of Cockroft and Walton could fit in a room, modern accelerators at facilities like CERN in Switzerland can reach up to 17 miles (27 kilometers) in length.
    — Andrea Richard, The Conversation, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of apparatus
Noun
  • Records show the school was billed $2,170—a relative pittance in the grand scheme of things—for a six-man crew from a local moving company to box up and relocate Moore’s belongings during the 43-hour window of his incarceration.
    — Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 8 Oct. 2026
  • In Gulf Shores, an Alabama community encouraging voluntary evacuations, resident Maranie Adams gathered water and other supplies as her family moved belongings, including a hot tub motor, to higher ground.
    — R.j. Rico, Los Angeles Times, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of belongings
Noun
  • A lot of the Hamilton stuff is quite emotional and deeply meaningful to the greater themes of the book.
    — Max Gao, Variety, 4 Oct. 2026
  • There's a lot of places where, not just the immigration message, but just what stuff costs.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 4 Oct. 2026
Definition of stuff

Browse Nearby Words

parapets
paraphernalia
paraphrase
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Cite this Entry

“Paraphernalia.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/paraphernalia. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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