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.

Roth paints a dreary portrait of how that scenario could have played out, but the horrors are resolved by something of a deus ex machina rather than by any one character’s bold, heroic actions.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 26, 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

In Going Infinite, Lewis portrays Bankman-Fried’s miraculous resurrection via FTX as a kind of deus ex machina.

From Slate • Oct. 5, 2023

“A deus ex machina, then, in a double sense,” said Dr. Calvin, dryly.

From "I, Robot" by Isaac Asimov