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
The name, Coffman said, was his invention.
—
Emily Holshouser, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 Apr. 2026
The founders, who included Altman, Sutskever, Brockman, and Elon Musk, asserted that artificial intelligence could be the most powerful, and potentially dangerous, invention in human history, and that perhaps, given the existential risk, an unusual corporate structure would be required.
—Ronan Farrow, New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2026
Time to grow up and reject belief systems concocted before the invention of clocks and toilet paper.
—Letters To The Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 5 Apr. 2026
With strong leadership and direction, what first appears as setbacks can in fact be a jumping-off point for invention and growth.
—Paul Fitzgerald, Rolling Stone, 3 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for invention
Emily Holshouser, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 Apr. 2026
The founders, who included Altman, Sutskever, Brockman, and Elon Musk, asserted that artificial intelligence could be the most powerful, and potentially dangerous, invention in human history, and that perhaps, given the existential risk, an unusual corporate structure would be required.
—Ronan Farrow, New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2026
Time to grow up and reject belief systems concocted before the invention of clocks and toilet paper.
—Letters To The Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 5 Apr. 2026
With strong leadership and direction, what first appears as setbacks can in fact be a jumping-off point for invention and growth.
—Paul Fitzgerald, Rolling Stone, 3 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for invention
Recent Examples of Synonyms for invention
Noun
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McRae was deeply involved in economic development and improvements in education and developed a national reputation for innovation.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
11 Apr. 2026
-
If your company values innovation, hire people who challenge ideas and push for creative solutions — not just those who agree with everything.—
Karla Vallecillo,
Hartford Courant,
11 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The Canadian filmmaker Sophy Romvari does something similar with the new movie Blue Heron, a semi-autobiographical piece whose structure loops in on itself, melding fact and fiction into a doleful portrait of a family tragedy.—
Richard Lawson,
HollywoodReporter,
16 Apr. 2026
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Shot on 16mm, the film blends fiction and documentary and tackles themes ranging from labor rights to gender identity.—
Lise Pedersen,
Variety,
16 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Each consists of no more than two visible walls — showing bare, wooden interiors — with the rest left to our imagination.—
Siddhant Adlakha,
Variety,
12 Apr. 2026
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The show teaches kids important lessons about friendship, imagination, family, and the joy of being yourself.—
Kara Nesvig,
Parents,
12 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Pop-ups are another major pipeline connecting and feeding our creativity.—
Bill Addison,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Apr. 2026
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The intuitive Moon is waltzing through your sign, partnering with innovative Uranus in your creativity zone along the way.—
Tarot.com,
Baltimore Sun,
10 Apr. 2026
Noun
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His plays — rife with exploration of deep humanity and emotion — provide not just a framework for hanging many different worlds upon his words, but also the kind of complex characters and twisted tales that actors and filmmakers crave, whether tragedy, romance or comedy.—
Katie Walsh,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Apr. 2026
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The affable comedian and improv star is known for a self-deprecating brand of humor that leans into storytelling, audience interaction and behind-the-scenes tales from the long-running hit show.—
Travis Pinson,
Dallas Morning News,
10 Apr. 2026
Noun
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There's also a palpable new seam of imaginativeness among residents.—
Toby Skinner,
Condé Nast Traveler,
15 Nov. 2024
Noun
-
But without freedom, Berdyaev writes, creativeness is impossible.—
Andrew McDiarmid,
Chicago Tribune,
30 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
However, as transistor dimensions approach atomic scales, quantum effects, heat dissipation, and fabrication constraints are making further miniaturization increasingly difficult.—
Bojan Stojkovski,
Interesting Engineering,
12 Apr. 2026
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Intel makes the latest Xeon processor on its most advanced 18A technology at its Arizona chip fabrication plant that opened last year.—
Katie Tarasov,
CNBC,
9 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Invention.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/invention. Accessed 17 Apr. 2026.
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