as in to devise
to create or think of by clever use of the imagination
they invented an explanation for the broken vase that would satisfy their grandmother
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 invent
Early freed Black men became blacksmiths and farmers and used their skills to invent such things as the corn planter, the cotton-cleaning machine, the broom-making machine, and in 1853, the potato chip.
—
Bea L. Hines, Miami Herald, 19 June 2025
Which story series inspired the U.K. ringleader (subsequently convicted and imprisoned)?
Sherlock Holmes, created by Arthur Conan Doyle
Hercule Poirot, an Agatha Christie sleuth
James Bond, invented by Ian Fleming
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, by Stieg Larsson
Thanks for reading!
—Kristina Karisch, The Hill, 19 June 2025
It’s been said that Brian invented the state of California, the state of mind.
—August Brown, Los Angeles Times, 12 June 2025
Wall Street occasionally invents merry-go-rounds that work for a while but lack obvious exit strategies.
—Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 12 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for invent
Bea L. Hines, Miami Herald, 19 June 2025
Which story series inspired the U.K. ringleader (subsequently convicted and imprisoned)?
Sherlock Holmes, created by Arthur Conan Doyle
Hercule Poirot, an Agatha Christie sleuth
James Bond, invented by Ian Fleming
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, by Stieg Larsson
Thanks for reading!
—Kristina Karisch, The Hill, 19 June 2025
It’s been said that Brian invented the state of California, the state of mind.
—August Brown, Los Angeles Times, 12 June 2025
Wall Street occasionally invents merry-go-rounds that work for a while but lack obvious exit strategies.
—Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 12 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for invent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for invent
Verb
-
Flummoxed in Congress, organizing back home The pushback to Trump has been slow in starting as congressional Democrats, outnumbered in both chambers, continue to struggle to devise the strongest message and most effective tactics to use against the Republican president.—
Susan Page,
USA Today,
16 June 2025
-
For this space, Pablo Luna Studio devised a new type of harmony that combines inventiveness with deep roots.—
Jim Dobson,
Forbes.com,
16 June 2025
Verb
-
Essentially, people are challenging themselves to concoct the most atrociously belligerent bass in history.—
Kieran Press-Reynolds,
Pitchfork,
4 June 2025
-
In second place is Jeff (Ramy Youssef), an AI guru getting a lot of love from the public sector about an anti-deepfake filter his company has concocted.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
31 May 2025
Verb
-
As the fireline is constructed, inspected or reinforced, mappers record those details to adjust the containment percentage.—
CA WILDFIRE BOT,
Sacbee.com,
15 June 2025
-
Even in cities like New York, where nearly every square inch is already built up, developers are constantly knocking things down and constructing new buildings, giving them a chance to create a different kind of trash system.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
15 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Invent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/invent. Accessed 28 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share