as in creating
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 invoking
The man was briefly detained but declined to make a statement, invoking his right to an attorney.
—
Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 7 May 2026
Griffin closed with a broader warning for New York, invoking a familiar cautionary tale.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 6 May 2026
Senior White House staff discussed invoking the Twenty-fifth as Nixon spiralled into paranoia.
—Diego Lasarte, New Yorker, 4 May 2026
Even so, Muzaffar Chishti of the Migration Policy Institute said that the executive branch has vast discretion in immigration law, particularly when invoking national security justifications, and defense attorneys may face an uphill battle.
—Los Angeles Times, 1 May 2026
Such violations have further raised concerns of the war spilling over into non-combatant nations and potentially NATO allies invoking the bloc's Article 5 collective defense clause.
—David Brennan, ABC News, 30 Apr. 2026
However, invoking these deaths as justification for more draconian state intervention is misguided and dangerous.
—Chicago Tribune, 26 Apr. 2026
Attorneys for the coalition countered by invoking the Laquan McDonald case and the appointment of a independent prosecutor there, which eventually culminated in murder charges filed against former CPD officer Jason Van Dyke and his eventual conviction for second degree murder.
—Sabrina Franza, CBS News, 24 Apr. 2026
Brooks took particular issue with how modern playoff basketball is called, invoking legends of the sport to make his point.
—Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 23 Apr. 2026
Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 7 May 2026
Griffin closed with a broader warning for New York, invoking a familiar cautionary tale.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 6 May 2026
Senior White House staff discussed invoking the Twenty-fifth as Nixon spiralled into paranoia.
—Diego Lasarte, New Yorker, 4 May 2026
Even so, Muzaffar Chishti of the Migration Policy Institute said that the executive branch has vast discretion in immigration law, particularly when invoking national security justifications, and defense attorneys may face an uphill battle.
—Los Angeles Times, 1 May 2026
Such violations have further raised concerns of the war spilling over into non-combatant nations and potentially NATO allies invoking the bloc's Article 5 collective defense clause.
—David Brennan, ABC News, 30 Apr. 2026
However, invoking these deaths as justification for more draconian state intervention is misguided and dangerous.
—Chicago Tribune, 26 Apr. 2026
Attorneys for the coalition countered by invoking the Laquan McDonald case and the appointment of a independent prosecutor there, which eventually culminated in murder charges filed against former CPD officer Jason Van Dyke and his eventual conviction for second degree murder.
—Sabrina Franza, CBS News, 24 Apr. 2026
Brooks took particular issue with how modern playoff basketball is called, invoking legends of the sport to make his point.
—Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 23 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for invoking
Verb
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Likewise, in building communities, there must be a priority on preserving green spaces, creating walkable neighborhoods to reduce traffic and car emissions, intentionally designating areas for wildlife habitats, and prioritizing quality of life through parks, trails, and conservation areas.—
Sammy Duda,
The Orlando Sentinel,
12 May 2026
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The letter, sent Friday, comes amid a high-stakes legal battle currently playing out in an Oakland federal courtroom between onetime partners Altman and Elon Musk, the world’s richest man, who in 2015 co-founded the AI company best known for creating ChatGPT.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
12 May 2026
Verb
-
In addition to causing rare but slow-burn, fatal neurological disorders that can kill a child years after a measles infection, the virus can also wipe the immune system’s memory, destroying cells that fight off other infections.—
Veronique Greenwood,
Time,
11 May 2026
-
Republicans responded with a petition to repeal the increases, leading to a referendum that will land before voters just as the Iran war is causing the price of gas to skyrocket around the United States.—
Claire Rush,
Los Angeles Times,
11 May 2026
Verb
-
The Sun forms a cazimi with Mercury in Taurus in your 2nd House of Resources, bringing a sharp insight around income, spending, self-worth, or what your energy is actually worth.—
Tarot.com,
Hartford Courant,
14 May 2026
-
Royals starter Seth Lugo walked designated hitter Andrew Benintendi, bringing Kelenic up with two on and two outs and the score tied at 3.—
LaMond Pope,
Chicago Tribune,
14 May 2026
Verb
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The neutrino’s connection to such weighty matters rests on the fact that basically every fundamental matter-generating process also makes antimatter in equal numbers.—
Joseph Howlett,
Scientific American,
8 May 2026
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Implement a process to allow residents to opt out of paper bills and pay property taxes online (as simple as shopping online via a smartphone) — generating more revenue at lower costs to tax payers.—
Lucas Robinson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
8 May 2026
Verb
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The situation has captured international attention as some passengers had disembarked and dispersed across multiple countries before the outbreak was fully understood, prompting some to draw comparisons to the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic.—
Kara Fox,
CNN Money,
7 May 2026
-
The exchanges grew increasingly heated as Pratt repeatedly attacked Raman’s homelessness proposals, prompting Raman to accuse Pratt and Bass of focusing more on attacking her than debating one another.—
Teresa Liu,
Daily News,
7 May 2026
Verb
-
Our desire to see each other can remain the same but the means of doing so have to be flexible.—
R. Eric Thomas,
Chicago Tribune,
10 May 2026
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Just a wonderful man that teaches you lessons, teaches you camaraderie, unity, doing things as a unit, that no one’s different.—
Doug Padilla,
Oc Register,
10 May 2026
Verb
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The 1982 toy became a phenomenon, spawning the Masters of the Universe franchise with over 125 million toys sold in three years.—
Cerys Davies,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Known for satirizing horror flicks, the Scary Movie films launched with the first title hitting theaters in 2000 before spawning four sequels.—
Ryan Gajewski,
HollywoodReporter,
16 Apr. 2026
Verb
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But in 2003, it was considered too degraded to be capable of producing a match using methods available at the time.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
8 May 2026
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The technology deposits conductive and dielectric inks simultaneously, producing integrated 3D electronic structures with micro-scale precision.—
William Jones,
USA Today,
8 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Invoking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/invoking. Accessed 14 May. 2026.
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