SUBPOENA Synonyms: 47 Similar and Opposite Words

subpoena 1 of 2

noun

sə-ˈpē-nə

Definition of subpoena

as in summons

a written notice ordering a person to appear in court received a subpoena to appear as a witness for the prosecution

Synonyms & Similar Words

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subpoena

2 of 2

verb

as in to cite

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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 subpoena

Noun

Black was due to appear before the oversight committee on Thursday morning pursuant to a subpoena but refused to do so. — Dan Mangan, CNBC, 3 Sep. 2026 Black is seeking declaratory and injunctive relief preventing the committee from compelling compliance with the subpoenas. — John Parkinson, ABC News, 3 Sep. 2026

Verb

Her defense also requested the court to subpoena the IP address to trace where the messages originated. — Liza Esquibias, USA Today, 24 June 2026 The South Carolina lawmaker also introduced a resolution in March for the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee to subpoena former Attorney General Pam Bondi in the panel’s probe into the Jeffrey Epstein case. — Max Rego, The Hill, 11 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for subpoena

Recent Examples of Synonyms for subpoena

Noun

Arrests, summonses, and citations have increased by 72% when compared to 2025, but calls for service have decreased by 6% compared to 2025.

— Brian Sherrod, CBS News, 27 Aug. 2026
If a cyclist ignores a moving violation summons and gets stopped again while cycling, there’s nothing the NYPD can do other than issue more moving violation summonses that will be ignored and go unpaid.

— Voice of the People, New York Daily News, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of summons

Verb

In April 2025, the State Department upgraded El Salvador's travel advisory to its highest level, citing a drop in violent crimes and murders.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 10 Sep. 2026
In a statement, the companies cited McKinsey projections expecting AI agents will handle $3 trillion to $5 trillion of global consumer commerce by 2030.

— Evelyn Cheng, CNBC, 10 Sep. 2026

Definition of cite

Verb

What is harder to summon from this distance is the pulsating chaos of that day, hour by hour.

— Ann Gerhart, Washington Post, 11 Sep. 2026
The massive response of a blitz attack — most fire alarms summon only one engine — involves at least four ladder companies, four engine companies, four battalion chiefs, a deputy chief and a rescue squad.

— Peter Wilkinson, Rolling Stone, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of summon

Verb

But hey, this is a girl who requested that her college graduation gift be a trip to see the HOF in Canton.

— Joe Kinsey OutKick, FOXNews.com, 5 Sep. 2026
Under such a contract, customers (like the Navy) will request Seasat to supply the boats, launch them, maintain them, operate the autonomous system, and presumably provide the sensor/data service.

— Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 5 Sep. 2026

Definition of request

Verb

From there, enter 26-131 in the proceedings window/box (which is the first one shown on the page) and that should automatically call up the case of the early renewal filings for Disney’s ABC stations.

— Jim Harrington, Mercury News, 23 June 2026
Joey Meneses had an RBI single in his Athletics debut after being called up from the minors before the game.

— CBS News, CBS News, 21 June 2026

Definition of call up

Verb

The school could argue that the conference hastily convened the vote, perhaps in violation of bylaws or conference customs, and in doing so jeopardized its contracts with coaches, sponsors, media and licensing partners, and others.

— Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 9 Sep. 2026
The Republican National Committee convenes its first-ever midterm election convention on Wednesday in Dallas.

— Patrice Onwuka, Washington Post, 9 Sep. 2026

Definition of convene

Verb

The drones carried microphone speakers that allowed rescuers to call out to potential survivors or play music, which helped locate survivors in a few cases, Maharjan said.

— Jeremy Hsu, ArsTechnica, 10 Sep. 2026
College football fans were quick to call out the celebrations that broke out on the field in Ann Arbor.

— Mark Harris OutKick, FOXNews.com, 6 Sep. 2026

Definition of call out

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subplots

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“Subpoena.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/subpoena. Accessed 13 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of subpoena

noun

verb

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