as in devising
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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Recent Examples of inventing
While both Iowa and Indiana claim bragging rights for inventing the sandwich, the exact origin remains as delightfully fuzzy as a diner countertop debate.
—
Susan Stapleton, Des Moines Register, 4 Mar. 2026
Cole Winn, a one-time failed starter who is re-inventing his life as a reliever, cruises through the sixth.
—Tim Cowlishaw, Dallas Morning News, 3 Mar. 2026
Drawing on new interviews with Bowie’s collaborators and associates, as well as archival material, Larman offers a touching, detailed portrait of a gifted artist losing his bearings, flailing about, and re-inventing himself.
—George Kalogerakis, Air Mail, 28 Feb. 2026
Soldiers of the Army National Guard’s 28th Infantry Division have won an award for inventing a drone that uses a mechanism similar to an arcade claw machine to retrieve downed drones.
—Chris Young, Interesting Engineering, 23 Feb. 2026
The kid isn’t inventing injuries.
—Jerry Brewer, New York Times, 23 Feb. 2026
Tell that to Soren Sorensen (Sam) Adams, the Danish immigrant who is credited with inventing many of the same contraptions, along with some six hundred others, including sneezing powder and the joy buzzer.
—Alexandra Schwartz, New Yorker, 9 Feb. 2026
Teachers are not inventing problems.
—Lance Walters, Washington Post, 9 Feb. 2026
Known for inventing the Giant Bar and Candy Raisins, the Ziegler company became one of Wisconsin’s largest candy companies.
—Elaine Rewolinski, jsonline.com, 4 Feb. 2026
Susan Stapleton, Des Moines Register, 4 Mar. 2026
Cole Winn, a one-time failed starter who is re-inventing his life as a reliever, cruises through the sixth.
—Tim Cowlishaw, Dallas Morning News, 3 Mar. 2026
Drawing on new interviews with Bowie’s collaborators and associates, as well as archival material, Larman offers a touching, detailed portrait of a gifted artist losing his bearings, flailing about, and re-inventing himself.
—George Kalogerakis, Air Mail, 28 Feb. 2026
Soldiers of the Army National Guard’s 28th Infantry Division have won an award for inventing a drone that uses a mechanism similar to an arcade claw machine to retrieve downed drones.
—Chris Young, Interesting Engineering, 23 Feb. 2026
The kid isn’t inventing injuries.
—Jerry Brewer, New York Times, 23 Feb. 2026
Tell that to Soren Sorensen (Sam) Adams, the Danish immigrant who is credited with inventing many of the same contraptions, along with some six hundred others, including sneezing powder and the joy buzzer.
—Alexandra Schwartz, New Yorker, 9 Feb. 2026
Teachers are not inventing problems.
—Lance Walters, Washington Post, 9 Feb. 2026
Known for inventing the Giant Bar and Candy Raisins, the Ziegler company became one of Wisconsin’s largest candy companies.
—Elaine Rewolinski, jsonline.com, 4 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inventing
Verb
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Last week, the council voted 9–6 to direct the city manager to study moving its emergency operations, dispatch and service call center out of City Hall while devising funding plans for repairing the aging building, staying there and relocating.—
Devyani Chhetri,
Dallas Morning News,
9 Mar. 2026
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While Green gave him instant advice, Kerr was devising ways to get Porzingis involved.—
Joseph Dycus,
Mercury News,
8 Mar. 2026
Verb
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As Gyllenhaal begins concocting her third directorial feature, could Curtis be part of the picture?—
Antonio Ferme,
Variety,
6 Mar. 2026
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Gyllenhaal, who also wrote her film, has corrected the imbalance, refashioning the story from the Bride’s perspective and concocting a protagonist of unfiltered feminist fury.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
4 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Worse than constructing a Frankenstein’s Monster of mismatched compliance regulations, HB-1054 expands private litigation in a way that is tailor-made for abuse.—
Chris Richardson,
Denver Post,
7 Mar. 2026
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Iran has spent decades constructing underground bunkers for a range of purposes and contingencies.—
Lucia I Suarez Sang,
CBS News,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
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That means the public officials designing the dredging project have a stark choice to make, scientists say.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
8 Mar. 2026
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After designing Bessette-Kennedy’s dress, Rodriguez launched his own label and a fragrance line, and has continued to create designs that are woven into the fabric of American history — Michelle Obama wore his dress on election night in 2008.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Inventing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inventing. Accessed 12 Mar. 2026.
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