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
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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
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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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All of these material properties play a role in generating the potential measured by a probe, independent of any special Casimir forces or vacuum fluctuations.—
Stephen Clark,
ArsTechnica,
15 May 2026
-
Certain lower-risk administrative technologies are expressly excluded, including spreadsheets requiring human analysis, workflow management and routing tools, and systems that simply organize or summarize information without generating predictions or inferences.—
Alonzo Martinez,
Forbes.com,
15 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
-
Athletes are always getting bigger, stronger, and faster, and doing ever more incredible things.—
Louisa Thomas,
New Yorker,
17 May 2026
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In doing so, Din becomes a traitor to his bounty hunter guild, led by Greef Karga (Carl Weathers).—
Brendan Morrow,
USA Today,
16 May 2026
Verb
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These innocuous-seeming actions can kindle dry vegetation, potentially spawning a wildfire.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
15 May 2026
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Easy trails lead to roaring Nugget Falls, while boardwalks along Steep Creek offer chances to spot spawning salmon and black bears.—
Josh Rivera,
USA Today,
14 May 2026
Verb
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Among his earliest campaign donors, according to city filings, is top unscripted producer Jeff Jenkins, known for producing The Simple Life as well as Keeping Up with the Kardashians and its offshoots.—
Gary Baum,
HollywoodReporter,
15 May 2026
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The retailer is known for producing high-end bedding with low-end prices, most of which are thoughtfully designed and ethically sourced.—
Mariana Best,
Better Homes & Gardens,
15 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Invoking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/invoking. Accessed 18 May. 2026.
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