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
Viewers might sense a grand statement being made by the invocation of this famous painting.
—
Megan Garber, The Atlantic, 12 May 2026
Cardinal Blase Cupich led the invocation at the Democratic National Convention.
—Chicago Tribune, 11 May 2026
The installation could be read as an invocation of Cadet’s mother’s Washington Heights apartment.
—Elly Fishman, Vogue, 8 May 2026
As prospective farmers struggled to clear forests for rice fields in eighteenth- and nineteenth-century Malaya, their efforts might have been accompanied by mystical incantations like this invocation against Iblis, the Devil in Islamic tradition.
—H.m.a. Leow, JSTOR Daily, 24 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for invocation
Megan Garber, The Atlantic, 12 May 2026
Cardinal Blase Cupich led the invocation at the Democratic National Convention.
—Chicago Tribune, 11 May 2026
The installation could be read as an invocation of Cadet’s mother’s Washington Heights apartment.
—Elly Fishman, Vogue, 8 May 2026
As prospective farmers struggled to clear forests for rice fields in eighteenth- and nineteenth-century Malaya, their efforts might have been accompanied by mystical incantations like this invocation against Iblis, the Devil in Islamic tradition.
—H.m.a. Leow, JSTOR Daily, 24 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for invocation
Recent Examples of Synonyms for invocation
Noun
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Runner-up Ishaan Gupta, 12, put up an impressive 25 words in the spell-off.—
Scottie Andrew,
CNN Money,
29 May 2026
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Harini Logan won the first spell-off, in 2022, by spelling 22 words in 90 seconds.—
Rachel Treisman,
NPR,
29 May 2026
Noun
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There is a bopping, rhythmic assonance to Ginsberg’s unspooling lines, more incantation than poetry.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 June 2026
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As prospective farmers struggled to clear forests for rice fields in eighteenth- and nineteenth-century Malaya, their efforts might have been accompanied by mystical incantations like this invocation against Iblis, the Devil in Islamic tradition.—
H.M.A. Leow,
JSTOR Daily,
24 Apr. 2026
Noun
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As Rachel learns about the family curse that threatens her and her betrothed, Morrone digs in with emotional complexity and real grit.—
Joe Reid,
Vulture,
29 May 2026
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As Frankelda and Herneval grow closer, their bond becomes both a strength and a curse.—
Wilson Chapman,
IndieWire,
28 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Invocation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/invocation. Accessed 7 Jun. 2026.
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