as in created
to be the cause of (a situation, action, or state of mind)
we should be prepared for the possibility that any solution may invoke another set of problems
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Recent Examples of invoked
Democratic Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib and Congressman Shri Thanedar called on the 25th Amendment to be invoked, which would ensure an orderly transfer of power if the president is incapacitated.
—
Julia Avant, CBS News, 8 Apr. 2026
The suit invoked a New York law that is generally used to challenge state and local government decisions, though it's occasionally applied to private organizations.
—ABC News, 7 Apr. 2026
Trump invoked his authority under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act of 1977 to impose the tariffs.
—Jessica Alvarado Gamez, Denver Post, 7 Apr. 2026
Ever since, intelligence officers have ruefully invoked that truism whenever they’re blamed for a major screwup.
—Shane Harris, The Atlantic, 5 Apr. 2026
In the biblical sequence Hanke invoked, the plowshares-into-swords moment is the penultimate act—the mobilization before the reckoning.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 3 Apr. 2026
In 2013, Harry Reid invoked the nuclear option to eliminate the filibuster for lower court nominations.
—Tony Vanderhoef, Sun Sentinel, 2 Apr. 2026
Jones had visibly healed wounds and bruises on his left shoulder and the right side of his neck and invoked his right not to speak to police, the affidavit alleges.
—Kc Baker, PEOPLE, 2 Apr. 2026
The girlfriend testified at the trial after being granted immunity and the friend invoked his Fifth Amendment right not to incriminate himself by taking the stand.
—Colleen Cronin, Boston Herald, 31 Mar. 2026
Julia Avant, CBS News, 8 Apr. 2026
The suit invoked a New York law that is generally used to challenge state and local government decisions, though it's occasionally applied to private organizations.
—ABC News, 7 Apr. 2026
Trump invoked his authority under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act of 1977 to impose the tariffs.
—Jessica Alvarado Gamez, Denver Post, 7 Apr. 2026
Ever since, intelligence officers have ruefully invoked that truism whenever they’re blamed for a major screwup.
—Shane Harris, The Atlantic, 5 Apr. 2026
In the biblical sequence Hanke invoked, the plowshares-into-swords moment is the penultimate act—the mobilization before the reckoning.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 3 Apr. 2026
In 2013, Harry Reid invoked the nuclear option to eliminate the filibuster for lower court nominations.
—Tony Vanderhoef, Sun Sentinel, 2 Apr. 2026
Jones had visibly healed wounds and bruises on his left shoulder and the right side of his neck and invoked his right not to speak to police, the affidavit alleges.
—Kc Baker, PEOPLE, 2 Apr. 2026
The girlfriend testified at the trial after being granted immunity and the friend invoked his Fifth Amendment right not to incriminate himself by taking the stand.
—Colleen Cronin, Boston Herald, 31 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for invoked
Verb
-
The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
12 Apr. 2026
-
The artist created devotional scenes representing the fourteen Stations of the Cross.—
Douglas Stuart,
New Yorker,
12 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The idea was brought forth by Royals pitching coach Brian Sweeney.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
9 Apr. 2026
-
The team brought Schlag to an ambulance waiting in a nearby field.—
Conor Wight,
CBS News,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
In 2023, Berkeley fire officials warned that at least six fires in a short period were caused by batteries for electric skateboards, scooters and at least one bike that had been left unattended while charging.—
Ethan Baron,
Mercury News,
6 Apr. 2026
-
Zlotnikov wrote that the condition was likely caused by a mutation that had occurred very early in embryonic development, a supposition that was confirmed decades later by genetic analysis.—
Jerome Groopman,
New Yorker,
6 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Two of his 12 fastballs generated at least 26 inches of induced vertical break, something no pitcher had accomplished in a major-league game since the Baltimore Orioles’ Félix Bautista did it in 2023.—
Fabian Ardaya,
New York Times,
8 Apr. 2026
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Podcasts are booming on Patreon — with revenue generated by podcasters on the direct-to-fan platform hitting $629 million in 2025, a 33% year-over-year increase, the company says.—
Todd Spangler,
Variety,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The shooting prompted protests over police use of force, and calls for police to stop foot pursuits altogether until the department overhauls its chase policies.—
CBS Chicago Team,
CBS News,
6 Apr. 2026
-
OpenAI is now facing seven wrongful-death lawsuits, which allege that ChatGPT prompted several suicides and a murder.—
Ronan Farrow,
New Yorker,
6 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The matchup spawned a rivalry between Reese and Clark, which has since carried over to the WNBA.—
Rohan Nadkarni,
NBC news,
6 Apr. 2026
-
The album, which was released on March 27, 2001, spawned a title track that won two Grammys and earned RIAA Diamond status (10x platinum).—
Ralphie Aversa,
USA Today,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
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After its first flight following Christmas in 1942, only 1,435 of these fighters were produced before the war ended, as per the National Naval Aviation Museum.—
Maria Mocerino,
Interesting Engineering,
11 Apr. 2026
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The school has produced three Heisman winners (Steve Spurrier, Tim Tebow, Danny Wuerffel), a runner-up (Rex Grossman) and a finalist (Kyle Trask).—
Edgar Thompson,
The Orlando Sentinel,
11 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Johnson’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment Wednesday, nor did HUD officials.—
Lizzie Kane,
Chicago Tribune,
7 Aug. 2025
-
The two men then said Smollett paid them to stage the attack, and Smollett was charged with filing a false police report; the charges were later dropped after Smollett paid a fine and did community service.—
Rick Porter,
HollywoodReporter,
6 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Invoked.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/invoked. Accessed 13 Apr. 2026.
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