as in spells
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 invocations
As his invocations crescendoed, so did the music behind him and the Legacy Mass Choir broke into a rousing gospel performance to start the homegoing services.
—
CBS News, 6 Mar. 2026
In reality, only 17 out of 45 presidents — or 37% — utilized the law, according to the Brennan Center for Justice, a nonpartisan law and policy organization that in 2022 tracked all Insurrection Act invocations.
—Juliana Kim, NPR, 15 Jan. 2026
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
Zed has led invocations for the Idaho Senate and Boise City Council.
—Rose Evans, Idaho Statesman, 21 Oct. 2025
Many of those invocations dealt with white supremacist groups like the Ku Klux Klan attacking Black Americans or attempting political violence following the end of slavery in the South and the Civil War.
—Andrew Stanton, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Oct. 2025
All of the other rare invocations of Article 4 were by Turkey, which asked for consultations related to threats coming from Iraq and Syria.
—Lauren Kent, CNN Money, 11 Sep. 2025
Similar invocations of democracy and American leadership litter the lobbying documents, policy proposals, interviews, and congressional testimonies of these companies and their executives.
—Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 25 Aug. 2025
CBS News, 6 Mar. 2026
In reality, only 17 out of 45 presidents — or 37% — utilized the law, according to the Brennan Center for Justice, a nonpartisan law and policy organization that in 2022 tracked all Insurrection Act invocations.
—Juliana Kim, NPR, 15 Jan. 2026
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
Zed has led invocations for the Idaho Senate and Boise City Council.
—Rose Evans, Idaho Statesman, 21 Oct. 2025
Many of those invocations dealt with white supremacist groups like the Ku Klux Klan attacking Black Americans or attempting political violence following the end of slavery in the South and the Civil War.
—Andrew Stanton, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Oct. 2025
All of the other rare invocations of Article 4 were by Turkey, which asked for consultations related to threats coming from Iraq and Syria.
—Lauren Kent, CNN Money, 11 Sep. 2025
Similar invocations of democracy and American leadership litter the lobbying documents, policy proposals, interviews, and congressional testimonies of these companies and their executives.
—Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 25 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for invocations
Noun
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The strike was a culmination of a dominant first 30 minutes from Summit FC, which held long, commanding spells of possession to set the tone.—
Braidon Nourse,
Denver Post,
21 Mar. 2026
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Hilarious Leprechaun Jokes What kind of spells do leprechauns use?—
Nicole Harris,
Parents,
16 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Where ancient midwives had summoned divine assistance by uttering incantations, medieval maternity caregivers called upon saintly mothers by reciting rhythmical charms.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
18 Mar. 2026
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Justin, the believer, is instantly alarmed by how these eerie tapes escalate from cute banter to ghostly crying babies and backward incantations.—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Pay multiple people from the crafts site Etsy to perform tarot readings, lift any existing curses and otherwise engage in witchcraft.—
Tyler Estep,
AJC.com,
4 Mar. 2026
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Indeed, various curses and slurs could be heard shouted from the audience at London's Royal Festival Hall, even during some segments broadcast to audiences in England and abroad.—
Ryan Coleman,
Entertainment Weekly,
22 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Invocations.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/invocations. Accessed 29 Mar. 2026.
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