1
as in innovation
something (as a device) created for the first time through the use of the imagination
his clever invention made people's lives easier
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2
as in fiction
something that is the product of the imagination
unsurprisingly, the story about being kidnapped by aliens was pure invention
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3
as in imagination
the ability to form mental images of things that either are not physically present or have never been conceived or created by others
a writer with great invention, she is able to create on the page worlds that don't exist but certainly seem like they could
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4
as in creativity
the skill and imagination to create new things
a person of seemingly endless invention, Thomas Edison held a world-record 1,093 patents
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Recent Examples of invention
They can be found there most Thursday nights, even in the bleakest midwinter, their sneakers slapping out a staccato beat that echoes the invention of their sport, almost 60 years ago, on the same spot: the parking lot of Columbia High School.
—
David Waldstein, New York Times, 15 Feb. 2025
There are also cacio e pepe tater tots, which could be one of the greatest inventions of all time.
—Connie Ogle, Miami Herald, 14 Feb. 2025
Except Gibson’s inventions are so brazen that this more nuanced argument gets lost.
—Alison Herman, Variety, 6 Feb. 2025
But controlling what's left of the other powers is a bit of a hassle, so the invention of nuclear weapons will be what gives you the last word on any negotiating table.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 6 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for invention
David Waldstein, New York Times, 15 Feb. 2025
There are also cacio e pepe tater tots, which could be one of the greatest inventions of all time.
—Connie Ogle, Miami Herald, 14 Feb. 2025
Except Gibson’s inventions are so brazen that this more nuanced argument gets lost.
—Alison Herman, Variety, 6 Feb. 2025
But controlling what's left of the other powers is a bit of a hassle, so the invention of nuclear weapons will be what gives you the last word on any negotiating table.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 6 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for invention
Recent Examples of Synonyms for invention
Noun
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Recognizing the urgent need for innovation in this life-saving sector, Pulse Charter Connect is a beacon of hope.—
Geri Stengel,
Forbes,
19 Feb. 2025
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Legend shares its name with a previous Royal Caribbean ship that stopped sailing for the line in 2017, partly because the innovations of the Icon Class were informed by those that preceded it.—
Nathan Diller,
USA TODAY,
19 Feb. 2025
Noun
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This Morning, This Evening (a portrait of a rural Alabama community in which Ross embedded himself), to Nickel Boys, his impressionistic bravura fiction feature debut about two Black boys sent to a reform school in Jim Crow–era Florida.—
Lisa Wong Macabasco,
Vogue,
22 Feb. 2025
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NewsGuard has identified 273 phony news sites of this type with links to Dougan, spreading disinformation that is then repeated by the leading Western chatbots, which NewsGuard has found have a limited ability to distinguish truth from fiction.—
Tom Rogers,
Newsweek,
21 Feb. 2025
Noun
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This quickly sparked imagination about the technology's broader possibilities.—
Eilon Reshef,
Forbes,
21 Feb. 2025
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Use your imagination to write the opening of a short story or poem inspired by this photo.—
The Learning Network,
New York Times,
21 Feb. 2025
Noun
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As a result, organizations can ensure that AI becomes a true partner in growth and creativity, unlocking new possibilities for their workforce.—
Son Nguyen,
Forbes,
20 Feb. 2025
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The latitude for this sort of quirk and creativity has only proven a recent possibility for many chefs.—
Elazar Sontag,
Bon Appétit,
20 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Notably, there was zero mention of Baldoni or his company, Wayfarer Studios, which had brought on Sony to market and distribute their adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s best-selling novel about a woman caught up in an intertwining tale of new love and domestic abuse.—
Pamela McClintock,
The Hollywood Reporter,
25 Feb. 2025
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Icelandic helmer Baltasar Kormákur directed the first episode and was heavily involved in the series, which brings an historical tale of Harold, Earl of Wessex (Norton), and William, Duke of Normandy (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau), to life.—
Stewart Clarke,
Deadline,
25 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Even Gizelle called it out, saying Mia’s fabrications always seem a little too convenient for the storyline.—
Shelby Stewart,
Essence,
24 Feb. 2025
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And then, the shipyard, operating in the shadow of HII’s busy Ingalls vessel fabrication facility and down the road from Austal USA’s thriving manufacturing site in Mobile, Alabama, may not have the workers needed to take on such a big project.—
Craig Hooper,
Forbes,
20 Feb. 2025
Noun
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That persistence, fitness, ball-domination and ingenuity have Leeds on course for more than 100 points and 96 goals scored at their current trajectory.—
Beren Cross,
The Athletic,
25 Feb. 2025
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Being a Southern surfer requires a bit more patience and ingenuity than is expected of athletes who live in West Coast locales like California and Hawaii.—
Tara Massouleh McCay,
Southern Living,
20 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Adapted from the Jenny Han young adult novels, the series follows teenage Belly (Lola Tung) caught between which brother to give her heart to – Conrad (Christopher Briney) or Jeremiah (Gavin Casalegno).—
Clare Mulroy,
USA TODAY,
23 Feb. 2025
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Pick up my sci-fi novels the Herokiller series and The Earthborn Trilogy.—
Paul Tassi,
Forbes,
22 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Invention.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/invention. Accessed 1 Mar. 2025.
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