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
Back at its Utah HQ, where the walls are lined with pink Crumbl University diplomas and the test kitchen hums with invention, the next big flavor is already in the oven.
—
Seth Abramovitch, HollywoodReporter, 17 Oct. 2025
The scene in the troll market is a masterpiece of invention, and the movie is lithe and silly enough to give us some Barry Manilow for good measure.
—Tim Grierson, Vulture, 17 Oct. 2025
People think that this fake news phenomenon is a sui generis invention of the digital age.
—JSTOR Daily, 16 Oct. 2025
History of the stethoscope The invention of the stethoscope is widely credited to the 19th-century French physician René Theophile Hyacinthe Laënnec.
—Joshua Hutcheson, The Conversation, 16 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for invention
Seth Abramovitch, HollywoodReporter, 17 Oct. 2025
The scene in the troll market is a masterpiece of invention, and the movie is lithe and silly enough to give us some Barry Manilow for good measure.
—Tim Grierson, Vulture, 17 Oct. 2025
People think that this fake news phenomenon is a sui generis invention of the digital age.
—JSTOR Daily, 16 Oct. 2025
History of the stethoscope The invention of the stethoscope is widely credited to the 19th-century French physician René Theophile Hyacinthe Laënnec.
—Joshua Hutcheson, The Conversation, 16 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for invention
Recent Examples of Synonyms for invention
Noun
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However, as China ruthlessly pursues independent innovation, domestic substitution of imports has become a policy priority to ensure tech self-sufficiency in critical industries.—
Ni Tao,
Interesting Engineering,
21 Oct. 2025
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One of his innovations in the new space is Fresh Out of the Box, a shelf holding books that are newly unboxed without anyone knowing the contents.—
Mary Ann Grossmann,
Twin Cities,
20 Oct. 2025
Noun
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But only once has the mercantile danced with the affluent to such sensuous effect in the realm of fiction.—
JSTOR Daily,
JSTOR Daily,
18 Oct. 2025
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This year, the four debut categories that make up the filmmaker new talent longlists include 12 first-time fiction feature directors, 13 first-time feature documentary directors, 16 first-time writers, and 16 breakthrough producers.—
Zac Ntim,
Deadline,
17 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The goal is to reconnect with your own unique curiosity and imagination.—
Cas Holman,
CNBC,
21 Oct. 2025
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Whether the Monster is part of Ana’s imagination or not, the scene carries a fragile, haunting power, suggesting that the only person capable of rescuing Ana from the pervasive mystery and misery of her home life belongs to the supernatural, outside the punishing borders of Franco’s Spain.—
Rory Doherty,
Vulture,
20 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Friendship for Breakfast Fallon and Swift’s friendship has long been rooted in humor and creativity, from surprise appearances on The Tonight Show to shared behind-the-scenes moments.—
Elizabeth Fogarty,
Better Homes & Gardens,
18 Oct. 2025
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As more employees filter into the building next year, the $3 billion investment reflects Dimon’s broader bet on the future of office life, built on the conviction that real culture and creativity thrive only when people work side by side.—
Emma Burleigh,
Fortune,
18 Oct. 2025
Noun
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This is the fourth Hammer Frankenstein film but only the third directed by Terence Fisher – after nine years away from the Baron’s experiments, Fisher returns for a gut-punching tale of undesirable outsiders, execution anxiety, and gender-bent possession.—
Rory Doherty,
Vulture,
20 Oct. 2025
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Lane Neely, a park interpreter for Caddo Lake State Park, told USA TODAY that he's heard tales about a lake creature and a ghostly woman.—
Phaedra Trethan,
USA Today,
20 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The materials used, PPy, PSS, and simple solvents, are inexpensive, and fabrication requires only basic voltage control and laser patterning, making large-scale production feasible.—
Rupendra Brahambhatt,
Interesting Engineering,
19 Oct. 2025
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In the world of digital fabrication, the line between industrial capability and desktop convenience has always been sharply drawn.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
16 Oct. 2025
Noun
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With no spare dough for musical development, Tupac and Mouse relied on ingenuity.—
Jeff Pearlman,
Rolling Stone,
17 Oct. 2025
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In much contemporary literary fiction, that’s often replaced by ingenuity.—
New York Times,
New York Times,
16 Oct. 2025
Noun
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In my first novel, The Laughter, the middle-aged white male protagonist is an English professor who doesn’t understand why the university must give in to demands for a more diverse curriculum and faculty rather than simply teach about truth and beauty from the literary canon.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
15 Oct. 2025
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Netflix has set Thursday, January 8, for the premiere of His & Hers, its limited series based on Alice Feeney’s novel, starring Tessa Thompson, who also executive produces, and Jon Bernthal.—
Denise Petski,
Deadline,
15 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Invention.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/invention. Accessed 22 Oct. 2025.
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