as in spell
a spoken word or set of words believed to have magic power
a Siberian shaman muttering mysterious invocations to ward off evil
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Recent Examples of invocation
Some Southwestern Native Americans peoples, like the Taos Pueblo, also believe that dancing, in this case as a spiritual entreaty or invocation to the weather, might bring about cold weather and even snow, so perhaps there’s something to the tradition.
—
Katrina Donham, Parents, 25 Dec. 2025
Advertisement The invocation of God is not incidental.
—Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 19 Dec. 2025
Seneca’s and Cicero’s invocations of humanitas were as double-edged as our own talk of the humanities, pointing at once to a body of knowledge and to a moral choice that learning might inspire.
—Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 8 Dec. 2025
But, despite Vance’s invocation of free will, his remarks struck a nerve –– some described the vice president’s words as denigrating towards Hindus –– and broadly, South Asians –– at a time of rising hostilities towards immigrants in the US.
—Karina Tsui, CNN Money, 21 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for invocation
Katrina Donham, Parents, 25 Dec. 2025
Advertisement The invocation of God is not incidental.
—Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 19 Dec. 2025
Seneca’s and Cicero’s invocations of humanitas were as double-edged as our own talk of the humanities, pointing at once to a body of knowledge and to a moral choice that learning might inspire.
—Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 8 Dec. 2025
But, despite Vance’s invocation of free will, his remarks struck a nerve –– some described the vice president’s words as denigrating towards Hindus –– and broadly, South Asians –– at a time of rising hostilities towards immigrants in the US.
—Karina Tsui, CNN Money, 21 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for invocation
Recent Examples of Synonyms for invocation
Noun
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The archer is known to be a magical being that throws zingers, or in this case, spells, at those who frustrate their peace.—
Lisa Stardust,
PEOPLE,
12 Jan. 2026
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The incoming generation of designs should be a step closer to the cars used between 2014 and 2021 — a spell in which Hamilton won six of his world titles.—
Luke Smith,
New York Times,
12 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Fireflies blipped and burned out, and the cicadas joined in an incantation that crescendoed into an ancient whirr.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
15 Dec. 2025
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When paired with the Grimmerie translation key available on the film's Universal site, the spell is revealed to be an incantation for soothing and mending pain and fear.—
Mekishana Pierre,
Entertainment Weekly,
26 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Everything changes when a man from the protagonist's past (Harington) comes back from war, and a curse arrives in the form of a knight.—
Wesley Stenzel,
Entertainment Weekly,
13 Jan. 2026
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Nico Harrison is gone, but his curse on the Mavericks lingers.—
Kevin Sherrington,
Dallas Morning News,
9 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Invocation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/invocation. Accessed 17 Jan. 2026.
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