1
as in innovation
something (as a device) created for the first time through the use of the imagination
his clever invention made people's lives easier
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2
as in fiction
something that is the product of the imagination
unsurprisingly, the story about being kidnapped by aliens was pure invention
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3
as in imagination
the ability to form mental images of things that either are not physically present or have never been conceived or created by others
a writer with great invention, she is able to create on the page worlds that don't exist but certainly seem like they could
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4
as in creativity
the skill and imagination to create new things
a person of seemingly endless invention, Thomas Edison held a world-record 1,093 patents
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of invention
This was during the Great War, a terrible emergency, and before the invention of modern paperbacks.
—
Jill Lepore, New Yorker, 28 Apr. 2025
The invention of the internet and the rise of ecommerce are the latest tectonic changes in the retail world.
—Craig Lebrau, USA Today, 24 Apr. 2025
Most people who get really excited about an invention are not just trying to make a profit.
—Umair Irfan, Vox, 23 Apr. 2025
Besides being an agency invention ungrounded in the statute, disparate impact liability stands antidiscrimination law on its head.
—The Editors, National Review, 25 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for invention
Jill Lepore, New Yorker, 28 Apr. 2025
The invention of the internet and the rise of ecommerce are the latest tectonic changes in the retail world.
—Craig Lebrau, USA Today, 24 Apr. 2025
Most people who get really excited about an invention are not just trying to make a profit.
—Umair Irfan, Vox, 23 Apr. 2025
Besides being an agency invention ungrounded in the statute, disparate impact liability stands antidiscrimination law on its head.
—The Editors, National Review, 25 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for invention
Recent Examples of Synonyms for invention
Noun
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In this environment, many physicians are looking beyond traditional solutions and embracing innovation to ensure their practices remain sustainable and focused on care.—
William Jones,
USA Today,
14 May 2025
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This tension lies in the relationship of the individual artist’s innovation to collectivity and tradition.—
Jenny Noyce,
JSTOR Daily,
14 May 2025
Noun
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In this fiction, the Crusades were not waged against Moors, but against elves – a race said to devour the flesh of humans, among other atrocities that are neither confirmed nor denied by the end of the story.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
17 May 2025
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And the contemporary women’s fiction category, where Reid is often listed, ended 2024 with a nearly 30% increase in sales over 2019 numbers, according to analyst Kristen McLean.—
Lucy Feldman,
Time,
15 May 2025
Noun
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Think about what your family values about toys — their ability to teach and to ignite your kids’ imaginations while keeping them occupied for long stretches of time — and then commit to only bringing home toys that fit that criteria.—
Stephanie Ganz,
Parents,
16 May 2025
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Directed by Irene Iborra, the stop-motion film – the first-ever stop-motion feature produced in Catalonia – portrays a young girl coping with family homelessness through imagination and resilience.—
Jamie Lang,
Variety,
15 May 2025
Noun
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In attempt to draw up intrigue for the upcoming season, teams flex their creativity in order to have the most memorable moment.—
C. Isaiah Smalls II,
Miami Herald,
15 May 2025
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In some business situations, the need for creativity is obvious: research and development, new business pitches, user experience strategies.—
Janine MacLachlan,
Forbes.com,
15 May 2025
Noun
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Returning to the wuxia genre that has defined much of his illustrious career, Tsui explains his approach to this latest adaptation of the classic martial arts tale.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
8 May 2025
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The best film version of Finney’s tale is the ‘70s one with Donald Sutherland, Brooke Adams, Veronica Cartwright, Jeff Goldblum, and Leonard Nimoy.—
Brian Tallerico,
Vulture,
7 May 2025
Noun
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Micron needs the money primarily to get the fabrication plant built and the equipment that goes in it.—
Angela Palermo,
Idaho Statesman,
24 Apr. 2025
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Thousands of stone tools discovered in a South African cave reveal that Ice Age humans had developed sophisticated fabrication techniques about 20,000 years ago, according to a report in the Journal of Paleolithic Archaeology.—
Paul Smaglik,
Discover Magazine,
10 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Also to feed you better than a restaurant with triple its airs and a third of its ingenuity.—
New York Times,
New York Times,
7 May 2025
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Expert instruction in a specialized group setting also encourages young ones to try new flavors, pushing their creativity, ambition, and ingenuity to the forefront.—
Wendy Altschuler,
Forbes.com,
5 May 2025
Noun
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Directed by Scottish filmmaker Lynne Ramsay, the movie is adapted from the 2017 novel of the same name by Ariana Harwicz.—
Kayla Grant,
People.com,
17 May 2025
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Toward the end, the novel takes on some more traditionally Abercrombian twists and turns as hard truths are revealed and new threats emerge.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
17 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Invention.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/invention. Accessed 21 May. 2025.
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