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
If that fails, youth could back a Prime Minister from outside Parliament, invoking the doctrine of necessity—though this risks overstepping constitutional limits.
—
Sonal Nain, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 Sep. 2025
Trump declared a state of emergency over crime in the nation’s capital one month ago, invoking a section of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act of 1973 to take control over the local police force.
—Connor Greene, Time, 10 Sep. 2025
Poland responded with a rare move, invoking Article 4 of the NATO treaty.
—John Deni, The Conversation, 10 Sep. 2025
Just a day after invoking the act, in March, the government sent more than two hundred Venezuelan men to CECOT, a notoriously brutal prison in El Salvador, without due process.
—David Remnick, New Yorker, 8 Sep. 2025
At tonight’s Toronto International Film Festival Tribute Awards, honorees like Idris Elba, Guillermo del Toro and Nina Hoss urged empathy, invoking the state of the world as in desperate need of human compassion.
—Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 7 Sep. 2025
During trial, Hoshmand’s wife refused to testify, invoking marital privilege.
—Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 4 Sep. 2025
Within hours of invoking the statute in March, immigration authorities used it to remove dozens of Venezuelans to a Salvadoran megaprison.
—Zach Schonfeld, The Hill, 3 Sep. 2025
The 5th Circuit Court is the first federal appeals court to rule directly on a March 14 presidential proclamation invoking the 1798 law to justify rapid deportations.
—Jan Wolfe, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2025
Sonal Nain, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 Sep. 2025
Trump declared a state of emergency over crime in the nation’s capital one month ago, invoking a section of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act of 1973 to take control over the local police force.
—Connor Greene, Time, 10 Sep. 2025
Poland responded with a rare move, invoking Article 4 of the NATO treaty.
—John Deni, The Conversation, 10 Sep. 2025
Just a day after invoking the act, in March, the government sent more than two hundred Venezuelan men to CECOT, a notoriously brutal prison in El Salvador, without due process.
—David Remnick, New Yorker, 8 Sep. 2025
At tonight’s Toronto International Film Festival Tribute Awards, honorees like Idris Elba, Guillermo del Toro and Nina Hoss urged empathy, invoking the state of the world as in desperate need of human compassion.
—Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 7 Sep. 2025
During trial, Hoshmand’s wife refused to testify, invoking marital privilege.
—Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 4 Sep. 2025
Within hours of invoking the statute in March, immigration authorities used it to remove dozens of Venezuelans to a Salvadoran megaprison.
—Zach Schonfeld, The Hill, 3 Sep. 2025
The 5th Circuit Court is the first federal appeals court to rule directly on a March 14 presidential proclamation invoking the 1798 law to justify rapid deportations.
—Jan Wolfe, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for invoking
Verb
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Officials are now working on drafting new rules and licensing regulations that would change that, creating a new type of marijuana business allowed in the city after voters legalized recreational marijuana statewide in 2022.—
Chris Higgins,
Kansas City Star,
9 Sep. 2025
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Millions will die, but society will finally get serious about creating adequate fail-safes for this new technology.—
Dev Patnaik,
Forbes.com,
9 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Tyler Robinson was also arrested on charges of obstruction of justice and the felony discharge of a firearm causing serious bodily injury, authorities said.—
Bobby Allyn,
NPR,
14 Sep. 2025
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Taxes at that level were essentially a blockade on commerce between the world's two largest economies, causing worries about global growth that led to negotiations that ratcheted down the tariffs being levied by both nations.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
14 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Growth in the number of new indoor resorts had the biggest percentage increase, with six opening in the last year, bringing the country’s total to 66 -- more than double the 31 indoor resorts that China had in 2020.—
Russell Flannery,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
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Former Brevard County School Board Member Jennifer Jenkins is launching a longshot Democratic bid for Marco Rubio’s former Senate seat — and hoping the polarizing prospect of bringing independents into the party’s primary will strengthen her chances.—
Claire Heddles,
Miami Herald,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Oracle & Artificial Intelligence All signs point to artificial intelligence as being a transformative tool for businesses and households, generating substantial economic benefits.—
Bill Stone,
Forbes.com,
13 Sep. 2025
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Why Healthcare Needs a Data Overhaul Healthcare systems are generating more data than ever before, from electronic health records and lab results to imaging scans, insurance claims, and even patient updates from wearable devices.—
Matthew Kayser,
USA Today,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Last week, Reuters reported that Pulte’s own father and stepmother had declared two homes in two different states as their primary residence, prompting a town in Michigan to remove a tax exemption for their home there and charge the couple for back taxes.—
Chris Prentice,
USA Today,
14 Sep. 2025
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Last week, Reuters reported that Pulte’s own father and stepmother had declared two homes in two different states as their primary residence, prompting a town in Michigan to remove a tax exemption for their home there and charge the couple for back taxes.—
Reuters 1 hr 34 min ago,
CNN Money,
13 Sep. 2025
Verb
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In doing so, Martin implicated billionaire bankers, major American corporations, and Colombia’s political elite.—
Martin Suarez,
Rolling Stone,
13 Sep. 2025
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Back on the balcony, the magician was doing his best to charm basketball players Devin Booker and Jordan Clarkson with card tricks.—
Kristen Tauer,
Footwear News,
13 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Later, a geyser erupted, spawning eyeballs that float upward in bubbles.—
Charlie Fink,
Forbes.com,
6 Sep. 2025
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These innocuous-seeming actions can kindle dry vegetation, potentially spawning a wildfire.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
2 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Jack Cultivated a Tangible Vision Jack had a clear vision for producing a unique style of whiskey.—
Chip Bell,
Forbes.com,
14 Sep. 2025
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That’s Liberty and the oil industry aim to survive for longer—fewer trucks, fewer rigs and fleets, fewer people, fewer emissions—fewer of everything, while producing the same or greater results.—
Jordan Blum,
Fortune,
14 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Invoking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/invoking. Accessed 16 Sep. 2025.
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