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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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
  • Wes Ostgaard, the hiker who summoned rescuers after finding Ortiz's body, told USA TODAY that the extreme conditions on the mountain that day could have tripped up even the most experienced climbers.
    Amanda Lee Myers, USA Today, 31 Oct. 2025
  • For five years, Ave and the other children trapped there — three of them aged six and under — were brutally pimped by their trafficker until a neighbor summoned the cops.
    Natalia Paradies, Rolling Stone, 31 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • From onboard drink packages to muster drills, there’s a lot for cruise newbies to take in.
    Nathan Diller, USA Today, 24 Oct. 2025
  • Quarterback Geno Smith was highly ineffective, passing for just 67 yards on 10 completions, while the Vegas run game mustered just 25 yards on 11 carries.
    Michael Gallagher, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • But at this point, desperate times call for desperate measures, and that’s where this two win team is.
    Omar Kelly Updated October 31, Miami Herald, 31 Oct. 2025
  • Crowdsourced review website Yelp called on to its elite members to rank the best places to get chocolate treats in the United States, and the reviews say one of the top spots is in Kansas City.
    Joseph Hernandez, Kansas City Star, 31 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Sixty leading experts from a range of fields, including medicine, public health, criminology, law and the technology sector, convened earlier this year to create an action plan to address the problem.
    NPR, NPR, 3 Nov. 2025
  • On July 30 that year, a court convened near where Maidstone Town Hall stands today.
    James Frater, CNN Money, 31 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Convoke.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/convoke. Accessed 6 Nov. 2025.

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