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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
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
-
And while track and field adopted the dual-advancement and dual-medal system, the policy does not easily translate to head-to-head contact sports or other athletic competitions, creating what critics see as a glaring inconsistency across the state.—
Alejandro Avila OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
19 May 2026
-
David then wakes up inside the woman's body, immediately creating a crisis.—
Tommy McArdle,
PEOPLE,
18 May 2026
Verb
-
Authorities said a tractor-trailer car hauler blew a tire while traveling eastbound on I-10 near Valencia Road, causing the truck to hit a guardrail, roll into the median and burst into flames, CBS affiliate KOLD reported.—
Abigail Adams,
PEOPLE,
18 May 2026
-
The same weather system is also fueling high winds across the Great Plains and causing wildfires to rapidly spread.—
Rob Marciano,
CBS News,
18 May 2026
Verb
-
Minnesota has interest in bringing Mats Zuccarello back, too, Guerin said.—
Joe Smith,
New York Times,
21 May 2026
-
Despite high gas prices and an overall pullback in discretionary spending, executives said the consumer continues to show interest in new items that Target is bringing into its assortment.—
Laya Neelakandan,
CNBC,
20 May 2026
Verb
-
The Emsella Treatment chair does the same for the pelvic floor, generating electromagnetic currents that cause pelvic floor muscles to contract and relax rapidly.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
23 May 2026
-
The combined company would begin life carrying roughly $79 billion in debt while generating only $3 billion in annual free cash flow.—
Joseph M. Singer,
HollywoodReporter,
22 May 2026
Verb
-
Honda Center became a noisy barn and not just because of the sound system or prompting from the in-house DJ.—
Eric Stephens,
New York Times,
15 May 2026
-
Harris’ infield single on a ball Hoerner tried to scoop and shovel with his mitt errantly got past first baseman Michael Busch, prompting Counsell to end Imanaga’s night at 96 pitches and right-handed hitting Ha-Seong Kim due up.—
Meghan Montemurro,
Chicago Tribune,
14 May 2026
Verb
-
There does not even seem to be a process for doing so.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
24 May 2026
-
The Office lost Steve Carell after season seven and kept going for two more, sustained by an ensemble that had been steadily doing the heavy lifting all along.—
Benjamin Svetkey,
HollywoodReporter,
23 May 2026
Verb
-
This embrace of coal is a short-term fix—extending the life spans of older coal-burning plants rather than spawning a wave of new ones.—
Jordan Blum,
Fortune,
19 May 2026
-
His predicament sparked huge interest online, spawning a devoted fanbase under the hashtag #HangInTherePunch.—
Frank Andrews,
CBS News,
18 May 2026
Verb
-
The Sox sent 13 batters to the plate while producing their most runs in an inning since scoring 11 in the second inning against the Cincinnati Reds on May 7, 2023, at Great American Ball Park.—
LaMond Pope,
Chicago Tribune,
23 May 2026
-
His knowledge and love of movies fueled his writing and co-producing on the American Film Institute’s Salutes not only to Peck but to Gene Kelly, Billy Wilder, Barbara Stanwyck and Jack Lemmon.—
Greg Evans,
Deadline,
22 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Invoking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/invoking. Accessed 25 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
