SUMMONS Synonyms: 65 Similar and Opposite Words

summons 1 of 2

noun

ˈsə-mənz

Definition of summons

as in warrant

a written notice ordering a person to appear in court if you ignore a court summons, you will be fined

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summons

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of summon

as in calls

to demand or request the presence or service of without explanation, the managing editor summoned me to his office

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in gathers

to call into being through the use of one's inner resources or powers managed to summon a bright smile despite the gloomy day

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as in musters

to bring together in assembly by or as if by command summoned a special session of parliament

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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 summons

Noun

Offenses like blowing red lights or running stop signs are currently handled via civil summonses. — Marcia Kramer, CBS News, 25 June 2026 Police said 10 people in the area around the parade were arrested and three others were issued summonses, on charges ranging from disorderly conduct to felony assault. — Anthony Izaguirre, Chicago Tribune, 19 June 2026

Verb

Trouble’s brewing once a magic flute that summons the powerful Great Water Dragon is stolen. — Randy Myers, Mercury News, 30 Apr. 2026 The Elden Ring sets are looking very real in a way that summons an overpowering urge to replay a game that takes 400 hours to get through. — Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 24 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for summons

Recent Examples of Synonyms for summons

Noun

Available documents indicate the warrant was related to the traffic case involving his driver’s license, although the extradition file does not specify its exact origin.

— Susana Erazo, CNN Money, 17 July 2026
In late 2024, the court issued arrest warrants for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the then-Defense Minister Yoav Gallant over their conduct of the war in Gaza.

— Steve Forbes, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026

Definition of warrant

Verb

Cristobal calls change ‘a positive step’ This new process would have benefited Miami greatly last year when determining who would make the conference championship.

— Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 16 July 2026
These 126 spacecraft will be part of a larger LEO network that the SDA calls the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture.

— Mike Wall, Space.com, 16 July 2026

Definition of calls

Verb

Helmut Haller, West Germany vs England, 1966 Ray Wilson misjudges his headed clearance, Haller gathers it on the edge of the box and, just before Bobby Moore can close him down, slaps a right-footed shot into the far corner.

— Adam Hurrey, New York Times, 17 July 2026
When her best friend’s family suddenly flees under suspicious circumstances, taking her away with them, 10-year-old Lucía gathers her gang to launch a plan inspired by their favorite superheroes.

— Marta Balaga, Variety, 17 July 2026

Definition of gathers

Verb

With unwavering resolve, Salvador musters an eclectic band of misfit street kids, led by the spirited Belén, to challenge the unyielding threads of destiny and protect Carmen from inevitable doom.

— Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 12 May 2026
Within the current dynamics of the War Powers Resolution, until Congress musters bipartisan supermajorities to connect its own institutional ambition with constitutional power, presidents from either party will decide alone if, and when, the country goes to war.

— Jasmine Farrier, The Conversation, 1 May 2026

Definition of musters

Verb

An employee assembles a long-range drone in a workshop of the Fire Point company which manufactures FP-1 deep-strike drones and FP-2 strike drones in an undisclosed location in Ukraine on January 29, 2026, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

— Sam Meredith, CNBC, 7 July 2026
In terms of overall quality, the movie the player assembles out of that 652-page framework isn’t bad!

— Lee Hutchinson, ArsTechnica, 3 July 2026

Definition of assembles

Noun

The office of Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway filed a civil petition — known as a writ of quo warranto — Thursday to remove Camille Johnston from the Ray County prosecutor’s post, alleging misconduct.

— Laura Bauer, Kansas City Star, 17 July 2026
Nothing can prepare you for the album art writ large on the inside flap, but the lavish haircut photos galore and commentary from folks like producer Bob Rock and then-bassist Jason Newsted are illuminating.

— Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 27 June 2026

Definition of writ

Browse Nearby Words

summoning

summons

summonses

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Style

“Summons.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/summons. Accessed 21 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of summons

noun

verb

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