deus ex machina

[dey-uhs eks mah-kuh-nuh, dee-uhs eks mak-uh-nuh] / ˈdeɪ əs ɛks ˈmɑ kə nə, ˈdi əs ɛks ˈmæk ə nə /

NOUN

unconvincing character who resolves plot

Synonyms

WEAK

contrivance device divine intervention gimmick god in the machine happy coincidence

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Jeeves is a deus ex machina; we learn almost nothing about him, except for imperturbability and skill at solving the crises that Bertie falls into through his pure cloth-headedness.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 18, 2025

A kind of deus ex machina, he pops into the novel at key points, offering incredible amounts of money like a possibly sinister fairy godmother in a Brothers Grimm tale.

From Seattle Times • May 15, 2024

With truth under assault and accountability seemingly non-existent, a billion-dollar bullhorn sharing micro-targeted messages on multiple platforms may not be an ideal deus ex machina, but it is the one our info-siloed public square demands.

From Salon • Apr. 6, 2024

The deus ex machina of assisted reproduction can be a blessing or a curse, depending on the god who sent the machine.

From New York Times • Feb. 29, 2024

Every Greek drama needs a deus ex machina.

From "Middlesex: A Novel" by Jeffrey Eugenides