A MEMS hysteretic thermal device may have two passive beam segments driven by a current-carrying loop coupled to the surface of a substrate. The first beam segment is configured to move in a direction having a component perpendicular to the substrate surface, whereas the second beam segment is configured to move in a direction having a component parallel to the substrate surface. By providing this two-dimensional motion, a single MEMS hysteretic thermal device may by used to close a switch having at least one stationary contact affixed to the substrate surface.