cite

Synonym Chooser

How is the word cite different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of cite are call, convene, convoke, muster, and summon. While all these words mean "to demand the presence of," cite implies a summoning to court usually to answer a charge.

cited for drunken driving

How do call and summon relate to one another, in the sense of cite?

Call may be used less formally for summon.

called the legislature into special session

How are the words convene and convoke related as synonyms of cite?

Convene is somewhat less formal than convoke.

convened the students

When is convoke a more appropriate choice than cite?

In some situations, the words convoke and cite are roughly equivalent. However, convoke implies a summons to assemble for deliberative or legislative purposes.

convoked a Vatican council

When would muster be a good substitute for cite?

The synonyms muster and cite are sometimes interchangeable, but muster suggests a calling up of a number of things that form a group in order that they may be exhibited, displayed, or utilized as a whole.

mustered the troops

When can summon be used instead of cite?

The words summon and cite are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, summon implies the exercise of authority.

was summoned to answer charges

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 cite Media reports have cited its production budget as $150 million, but former Pixar employees tell THR that the film cost far more than that. Ryan Gajewski, HollywoodReporter, 30 June 2025 Republicans have also cited Section 312 of Congressional Budget Act to argue that the final authority for determining baseline spending figures, and whether the tax portion of the bill violates Byrd, lies with Republican Senate Budget Committee Chair Lindsey Graham. Hugh Cameron, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 June 2025 The monitor also cited unease with portions of the law. Graham Rayman, New York Daily News, 30 June 2025 The Disney Dream ship was returning to Fort Lauderdale, Fla., on Sunday, June 29, after a four-night cruise in the Bahamas and made a stop at Disney's private island, Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point, when the incident took place, Newsweek and USA Today reported, citing Disney officials. Escher Walcott, People.com, 30 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for cite
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cite
Verb
  • Numbers mentioned in the media have suggested a fee in the region of €60 million ($70 million).
    Manuel Veth, Forbes.com, 27 June 2025
  • Not to mention, there is a great walking path that connects to the Little Sugar Creek Greenway.
    Katie Black, Charlotte Observer, 27 June 2025
Verb
  • Without specifying any figures, Sinclair says its ratings for women’s tennis have grown since 2023, especially among the coveted 18-to-34-year-old demographic.
    Brendan Coffey, Sportico.com, 1 July 2025
  • This must include at least 100 MHz from 3.98 to 4.2 GHz, but the plan doesn't specify where the rest of the 300 MHz or more would be taken from.
    ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 30 June 2025
Verb
  • Several political leaders have been quoted as to the president’s declining mental condition the last two years of his term.
    Robert Glatter, Forbes.com, 20 June 2025
  • The fact that memorization was a much bigger problem for the most popular books does suggest that Llama may have been trained on secondary sources that quote these books rather than the books themselves.
    ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 20 June 2025
Verb
  • Empathy means noticing and adjusting expectations without penalizing people for being human. 4.
    Jody Michael, Forbes.com, 23 June 2025
  • The firemen noticed Pilon, but every time one of them tried to get beyond the protection of the trucks, Barbaro fired at them.
    Sally Ventura June 23, Literary Hub, 23 June 2025
Verb
  • President Trump clapped back early Tuesday, noting the enormous federal subsidies Musk's various companies receive from the government and suggesting that the Department of Government Efficiency — which Musk led before stepping down late May — look into any spending flowing into Musk's empire.
    Anne Marie D. Lee, CBS News, 1 July 2025
  • Public Service Loan Forgiveness Changes There are some changes to note about Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF).
    Robert Farrington, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025
Verb
  • The document also indicated that more than 6,400 U.S. citizens living in Israel had submitted documentation asking for information regarding U.S.-charted evacuation flights.
    Adam Sabes , Julia Bonavita, FOXNews.com, 23 June 2025
  • The fact that oil prices fell sharply after the news broke also indicates that traders viewed the immediate threat of a widening war as diminished.
    Robert Rapier, Forbes.com, 23 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Cite.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cite. Accessed 5 Jul. 2025.

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