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
Some have become wealthy in business; others have become famous; still more have made the world better through research and invention.
—
Ian Bogost, The Atlantic, 29 Jan. 2026
Two different bars in Ensenada — Hussong’s Cantina downtown and Bar Andaluz near the cruise terminal — claim invention of the original margarita in the late 1940s.
—Joe Yogerst, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
Programmers have also felt empowered by the invention of new ways to integrate AI across software, such as Anthropic’s Model Context Protocol (MCP) servers (introduced in November 2024) and Google’s Agent2Agent protocol (introduced in April 2025).
—IEEE Spectrum, 29 Jan. 2026
The ranking places emphasis on the extent to which students achieve extraordinary success, for instance in patenting new inventions or rising to leadership roles in business.
—Raj Chetty, Time, 28 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for invention
Ian Bogost, The Atlantic, 29 Jan. 2026
Two different bars in Ensenada — Hussong’s Cantina downtown and Bar Andaluz near the cruise terminal — claim invention of the original margarita in the late 1940s.
—Joe Yogerst, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
Programmers have also felt empowered by the invention of new ways to integrate AI across software, such as Anthropic’s Model Context Protocol (MCP) servers (introduced in November 2024) and Google’s Agent2Agent protocol (introduced in April 2025).
—IEEE Spectrum, 29 Jan. 2026
The ranking places emphasis on the extent to which students achieve extraordinary success, for instance in patenting new inventions or rising to leadership roles in business.
—Raj Chetty, Time, 28 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for invention
Recent Examples of Synonyms for invention
Noun
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As a showcase of youth innovation, future artificial intelligence technology took center stage in Rancho Cordova with students showing off their bots.—
James Taylor,
CBS News,
31 Jan. 2026
-
Swishahouse became synonymous with innovation, hustle, and community, producing legendary mixtapes, shaping radio culture, and influencing generations of artists across hip-hop and beyond.—
Michael Saponara,
Billboard,
31 Jan. 2026
Noun
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In recent stories and this new novel, Saunders’s fiction has begun to feel both darker and a bit frustrated, spiritually and artistically.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
29 Jan. 2026
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That's a remarkably wide release for a documentary — a film form which rarely exerts the same box office pull as fiction features — meaning Melania will be easier to see on the big screen than most docs.—
Ryan Coleman,
Entertainment Weekly,
29 Jan. 2026
Noun
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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
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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
-
Create Shadow Art Shadow art is a great way to lean into Groundhog Day while also letting kids express their own creativity.—
Marilyn La Jeunesse,
Parents,
31 Jan. 2026
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Able to operate across the midfield, the 23-year-old would provide bite and physicality during Joelinton’s ongoing injury absence, while also offering creativity in attack, which Newcastle have lacked, especially in away matches.—
James McNicholas,
New York Times,
31 Jan. 2026
Noun
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For a cautionary tale, look no further than Kraft Heinz, formed by a mega-merger in 2015.—
Amelia Lucas,
CNBC,
31 Jan. 2026
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The series, the tale of a wealthy family forced to start from scratch in the middle-of-nowhere town of the title, amassed a cult following during the pandemic.—
Meriam Bouarrouj,
NBC news,
30 Jan. 2026
Noun
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But without freedom, Berdyaev writes, creativeness is impossible.—
Andrew McDiarmid,
Chicago Tribune,
30 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The board’s decision cited a piece from The New York Times that reported the fabrication rate of some new AI systems was as high as 79%.—
William Melhado,
Sacbee.com,
13 Jan. 2026
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Zand said chants supporting Pahlavi during recent protests reflect genuine sentiment, not fabrication, though such claims are difficult to independently verify amid internet shutdowns and state censorship.—
Efrat Lachter,
FOXNews.com,
10 Jan. 2026
Noun
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But in a messy world, with all those unpredictable X factors, leaders would do better to foster ingenuity, grit, and perseverance.—
Claire Zillman,
Fortune,
28 Jan. 2026
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This film is a meticulous and brilliantly crafted example of how a single idea, which unfolds with vision and ingenuity, can expand our way of seeing the world around us.—
Matthew Carey,
Deadline,
28 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Invention.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/invention. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.
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