invented 1 of 2

adjective

as in fictitious
not real and existing only in the imagination a daydreamer who lives mostly in her invented magic kingdom

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invented

2 of 2

verb

past tense of invent
as in devised
to create or think of by clever use of the imagination they invented an explanation for the broken vase that would satisfy their grandmother

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 invented
Verb
But most of those questionable expressions weren’t invented five minutes ago. — Hillary Busis, Vanity Fair, 5 Nov. 2026 And what's tricky about this is Direct Instruction, the version invented by Zig, is the opposite of lecturing. — Belinda Luscombe, Time, 5 Nov. 2026 Kraus explains that was an era where practicing medicine involved leeches; germs hadn't been discovered and antibiotics hadn't been invented. — Selena Simmons-Duffin, NPR, 4 Nov. 2026 With instant messaging yet to be invented, 11 am—the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month—was chosen to be the time when hostilities would officially cease in order to allow news of the armistice to reach the front lines. — Britannica Editors, Encyclopedia Britannica, 3 Nov. 2026 The Brick, invented in early 2023, is the latest attempt at limiting screen time and fighting phone addiction. — Jane Miller, Chicago Tribune, 3 Nov. 2026 In due course, with Watson’s aid, Bell invented the telephone, or so many a schoolchild could tell you. — Cal Revely-Calder, New Yorker, 2 Nov. 2026 What residents are living through goes beyond survival, Tarabaka said, adding that perhaps no word has yet been invented to describe it. — ABC News, 2 Nov. 2026 Levy became involved with the Furby when his friend, Dave Hampton, who invented the toy with co-creator Caleb Chung, called Levy who had a talent for making pitches and had the connection. — Pamela McLoughlin, Hartford Courant, 29 Oct. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for invented
  1. fictitious
  2. devised
  3. fictional
  4. concocted
  5. imaginary
  6. constructed
  7. imagined
  8. mythical
Adjective
  • This Lincolnian view of the war—that the United States was perpetual and that the Confederate States of America was a fictitious, farcical nation—has led to various historical interpretations ever since, among historians and laypeople alike.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 19 Oct. 2026
  • The series will be set in a fictitious Barneys in Beverly Hills, not New York, and the real founding family of the retailer, the Pressman family, has no involvement, the spokesperson said.
    — Jean E. Palmieri, Footwear News, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of fictitious
Verb
  • Composers devised elaborate systems for writing music that ventured deep into dissonance, away from the rules of tonality that had governed it for centuries.
    — Andy Cush, Pitchfork, 31 Oct. 2026
  • Kushner, in a fury, devised the salacious revenge plot that has colored his reputation ever since.
    — Lauren Collins, New Yorker, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of devised
Adjective
  • The path of the 2027 total solar eclipse will cross southern Tunisia, where several locations were used to bring the fictional desert planet Tatooine to life.
    — Jamie Carter, Space.com, 4 Nov. 2026
  • The books are based in the fictional, haunted, historic lakeside town of Wharton; Season 1 of the series will adapt Webb’s book The End of Temperance Dare.
    — Matt Grobar, Deadline, 3 Nov. 2026
Definition of fictional
Verb
  • These accusations are utter nonsense, concocted from distortions, half-truths and lies.
    — Kathleen Parker, Washington Post, 23 Oct. 2026
  • The White Sox concocted a creative playing style that blended elements of old-school small ball with home-run power.
    — Cody Stavenhagen, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of concocted
Adjective
  • The film was a vision of the future refracted through an imaginary past.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 30 Oct. 2026
  • The elimination of the imaginary Kong Mountains and knowledge of a shorter travel distance through the dense tropical forest accelerated French colonization of the region.
    — Thomas J Bassett, The Conversation, 29 Oct. 2026
Definition of imaginary
Verb
  • In a statement posted on X, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich stood in front of a bulldozer near the site of the shootout and promised Israel would tear down Palestinian buildings constructed without permits in the area.
    — Sam Metz, Los Angeles Times, 24 Oct. 2026
  • The upper is constructed of a gray mesh with matching suede overlays and translucent TPU side panels.
    — Karla Rodriguez, Footwear News, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of constructed
Adjective
  • The second scenario in the speculative design research is built around an imagined service called Paren’t, which proposes to preserve a parent’s AI-powered postmortem presence for their child.
    — Lissa Soep, Vox, 17 Oct. 2026
  • Drawn to the tactile and familiar qualities of paper, Teo uses playful forms and visual metaphors to transform everyday subjects and construct whimsical, imagined worlds.
    — New York Times Games, New York Times, 4 Oct. 2026
Definition of imagined
Adjective
  • Though not a household name, in certain circles, Celmins has attained near-mythic status.
    — Nate Freeman, Vanity Fair, 6 Nov. 2026
  • The rooms Even the most economical rooms are on point, continuing that mythic, sultry vibe that’s consistent across the resort.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of mythical

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Cite this Entry

“Invented.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/invented. Accessed 7 Nov. 2026.

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