as in to summon
to bring together in assembly by or as if by command convoked the leading experts on juvenile delinquency to study the situation

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

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

Some common synonyms of convoke are call, cite, convene, muster, and summon. While all these words mean "to demand the presence of," convoke implies a summons to assemble for deliberative or legislative purposes.

convoked a Vatican council

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

Call may be used less formally for summon.

called the legislature into special session

In what contexts can cite take the place of convoke?

The words cite and convoke can be used in similar contexts, but cite implies a summoning to court usually to answer a charge.

cited for drunken driving

How are the words convene and convoke related?

Convene is somewhat less formal than convoke.

convened the students

When would muster be a good substitute for convoke?

While the synonyms muster and convoke are close in meaning, 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 convoke?

The meanings of summon and convoke largely overlap; however, 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 convoke For example, the leader or head of the college is called the dean; one of his duties is to coordinate the conclave that will be convoked in the event a pope dies or resigns. Joanne M. Pierce, The Conversation, 15 Jan. 2025 Eli Wallach convokes The Good, The Bad and the Ugly. Armond White, National Review, 16 Aug. 2023 Late Friday, politicians both for and against Morales reached an agreement to send to congress a bill to convoke a new presidential election. Washington Post, 23 Nov. 2019 Maduro has vowed to resolve his nation’s crisis by convoking a special assembly to rewrite Venezuela’s constitution. Christine Armario, The Seattle Times, 18 May 2017 Maduro has vowed to resolve his nation's crisis by convoking a special assembly to rewrite Venezuela's constitution. Fox News, 18 May 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for convoke
Verb
  • Earlier that day, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot summoned the Russian Ambassador to France, Alexey Meshkov, over the issue.
    Mitchell McCluskey, CNN Money, 12 Sep. 2025
  • At Villa Park, his frailty was epic, defiant, even as his bandmates labored drastically to summon the power of 50 years earlier.
    James Parker, The Atlantic, 12 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The Lions badly missed his magic touch in Week 1, mustering just 13 points against the Green Bay Packers.
    Andy Scholes, CNN Money, 11 Sep. 2025
  • Kraft secured a place in the November general election with his second-place finish to Wu in Tuesday’s four-way primary, but was able to muster just 23% of the vote to the mayor’s 72% — despite pouring millions of his own cash into his campaign.
    Gayla Cawley, Boston Herald, 11 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Was this what some people called analytic contentment?
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 12 Sep. 2025
  • Laura Ashley has also worked with fragrance specialists Freckleface on a handmade candle called Vintage 100 that combines two of Laura’s favorite scents, English rose and wild blackberries.
    Samantha Conti, Footwear News, 12 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The military convened marching bands and appointed a Navy lieutenant, Bill Osmanski, a fullback for the Chicago Bears, to captain the Isahaya Tigers, and a Marine Corps lieutenant, Angelo Bertelli, a Heisman-winning quarterback at Notre Dame, to lead the Nagasaki Bears.
    Zach Helfand, New Yorker, 15 Sep. 2025
  • Getty Images From September 29 to October 2, the nation’s top female gymnasts will convene for the 2025 World Team Selection Event in Crossville, Tennessee.
    Caroline Price, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Convoke.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/convoke. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.

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