Skip to main content

deus ex machinaan unexpected power or event that saves a seemingly hopeless situation, especially in a story or play

Part of speech: NOUN

Definition: an unexpected power or event that saves a seemingly hopeless situation, especially in a story or play

Pronunciation (IPA): /ˌdeɪəs eks ˈmækɪnə/

Korean meaning: 절망적인 상황을 갑자기 해결해주는 예상치 못한 힘이나 사건 (문학에서의 기계장치의 신)

Korean pronunciation: 데**우**스 엑스 **마**키나

Example Sentences

  • The movie's ending felt like a deus ex machina when aliens suddenly appeared to save Earth.
  • My mom calling with pizza money right when I'm broke is like a deus ex machina.
  • Critics argued that the superhero's last-minute appearance was a lazy deus ex machina.

deus ex machina

NOUN

//ˌdeɪəs eks ˈmækɪnə//

an unexpected power or event that saves a seemingly hopeless situation, especially in a story or play

deus ex machina concept
💡 Concept

A deus ex machina divine hand saves condemned hero from certain death

Sign up free to see all content

Etymology, AI images, rhymes, collocations & examples — all in one!

Start for Free
deus ex machina rhyme
🎵 Rhyme

At the edge of despair shines the deus ex machina's divine machinery on the theater stage — when hope seems lost, the mechanical god descends to save the day

Sign up free to see all content

Etymology, AI images, rhymes, collocations & examples — all in one!

Start for Free

🎤Pronunciation

🇺🇸 US/ˌdeɪəs eks ˈmækɪnə/
🇬🇧 UK/ˌdiːəs eks ˈmækɪnə/

🌳Etymology

Rootdeus

Origin

From Latin, literally meaning 'god from the machine.' In ancient Greek and Roman theater, actors playing gods were lowered onto the stage by mechanical devices to resolve plot complications.

Sign up free to see all content

Etymology, AI images, rhymes, collocations & examples — all in one!

Start for Free

🎵Rhyme

arenahyenaantenna
arena
hyena
antenna

Sign up free to see all content

Etymology, AI images, rhymes, collocations & examples — all in one!

Start for Free

📝Examples

The movie's ending felt like a deus ex machina when aliens suddenly appeared to save Earth.

😄 Fun example

My mom calling with pizza money right when I'm broke is like a deus ex machina.

Critics argued that the superhero's last-minute appearance was a lazy deus ex machina.

😄 Fun example

Finding a $20 bill in my old jacket was a deus ex machina for my coffee addiction.

Sign up free to see all content

Etymology, AI images, rhymes, collocations & examples — all in one!

Start for Free

📚Related Words

Synonyms

divine interventionmiraculous solutionunexpected救援sudden rescueplot device

Antonyms

logical conclusionnatural resolution

Related

serendipitycoincidenceinterventionmachinationprovidence