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 The company declined to disclose where the future locations will open – citing company policy. James Powel, USA Today, 19 June 2025 The White House previously issued a brief pause on sector-specific raids, citing concerns from business owners across the country. Ashleigh Fields, The Hill, 19 June 2025 Even after Trump won back the presidency in November, Republicans have continued to hammer on Biden's age, citing in part new reporting about Biden that was published this year. Arkansas Online, 19 June 2025 Heye, the veteran GOP official, cited the case of Reince Priebus, Trump's former White House Chief of Staff, who found out Trump fired him on a rainy airport Tarmac in 2017 after traveling with the President on Air Force One. Josh Meyer, USA Today, 7 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
  • Although the classic martini serve has evolved, Milia specifies the baseline for the cocktail is still the same with two main ingredients.
    Rachel King, Forbes.com, 19 June 2025
  • Two men were arrested before this week’s announcement, and the status of the four others wasn’t specified.
    Bay Area News Group, Mercury News, 19 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
  • Authorities were first alerted to a potential issue after Disneyland Paris staff noticed that the bride at a pre-scheduled wedding appeared alarmingly young, per The Sunday Times.
    Toria Sheffield, People.com, 23 June 2025
  • But once the group noticed that Ginny had already died and turned to a zombie, Maggie could not finish the job, and instead handed her knife to Negan to finish off the young girl.
    Dalton Ross, EW.com, 23 June 2025
Verb
  • Since then, there have been a lot of protests—even more, by one count, than in the equivalent stretch of Trump’s first term—though the media, as Kang noted, hasn’t always covered them to the same extent.
    Jon Allsop, New Yorker, 20 June 2025
  • In addition, Morgan Stanley on Wednesday noted that the bank had removed Pop Mart from its China and Hong Kong focus list, replacing it with insurance company PICC P&C, according to CNBC.
    Cecilia Hult, Fortune, 20 June 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 modest moves indicate markets are taking the latest development in stride.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 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 2 Jul. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on cite

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