Definition of inventionnext
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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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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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 invention However, with each new invention, the amount of labor required was reduced and the workweek shortened. Jeff Mayhugh, Washington Post, 5 Jan. 2026 After all, personal timepieces are hardly a new invention. Brian Womack, Dallas Morning News, 4 Jan. 2026 Bohls had plenty of experience with Austin summers before air conditioning, an invention that historians credit with making modern Texas possible. Michael Barnes, Austin American Statesman, 4 Jan. 2026 The modern electric washing machine is one of the greatest inventions of the 20th century. Melissa Locker, Southern Living, 2 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for invention
Recent Examples of Synonyms for invention
Noun
  • Anthony Scott is the global product and innovation director at Havwoods, a wood flooring company based in Britain.
    Maria Sabella, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Jan. 2026
  • As scrutiny shifts from AI ambition to AI execution, CFOs may find that governance—not innovation—becomes the real test.
    Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 6 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • But in fiction, there’s a crew to think about and actors.
    Destiny Jackson, Deadline, 10 Jan. 2026
  • During her time at Old Dominion, Good took advanced courses on creative writing and the craft of fiction, according to one of her professors, Kent Wascom.
    Amanda Musa, CNN Money, 8 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • For their part, many voters always seem to be searching for some idealized candidate who exists only in their imagination.
    Mark Z. Barabak, Mercury News, 7 Jan. 2026
  • The Visionary Award recognizes an individual who has uniquely and consistently employed the art and science of VFX to foster imagination and ignite future discoveries by way of artistry, invention and groundbreaking work.
    Erik Pedersen, Deadline, 6 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • This innovative approach not only speeds the design process but also frees up designers to focus on more creative tasks, demonstrating how AI can be used as a tool to augment human creativity rather than replace it.
    Li Jun, Footwear News, 11 Jan. 2026
  • As a member of the Fine Art League of Cupertino, Choudhury volunteers his time and creativity to help people connect and grow through art.
    Diana Argabrite, Mercury News, 11 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • Some readers might expect an indictment of fan fiction and celebrity culture; Yi swerves, though, and creates a more searching and subversive tale of love, connection, and art.
    Erin Somers, The Atlantic, 6 Jan. 2026
  • In pitting his offspring against each other in a battle for the family empire Rupert Murdoch became part of a tale as old as time… A tale well told in Gabe Sherman’s Bonfire of the Murdochs.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 6 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • Hazmat teams are monitoring the air quality in Roselle Park, New Jersey, on Friday after a massive fire at a plastic fabrication warehouse sent chemicals into the air.
    Lisa Rozner, CBS News, 2 Jan. 2026
  • My hope is that political discourse in 2026 focuses on solutions, not accusations and fabrications.
    Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 1 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • For 175 years, California has been a marvel of invention and reinvention, disaster and recovery, grit and ingenuity.
    Sacramento Bee staff, Sacbee.com, 8 Jan. 2026
  • For me this award reflects the dedication, ingenuity, and generosity of spirit by so many of our artists that have joined me on this journey over the past 38 years.
    Beatrice Verhoeven, HollywoodReporter, 6 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • The Night Manager season 2 takes the action beyond the pages of le Carré's novel.
    Allison DeGrushe, Entertainment Weekly, 8 Jan. 2026
  • Henry also boarded the adaptation of her novel Happy Place, published a year before Funny Story in April 2023.
    Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 8 Jan. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Invention.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/invention. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.

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