as in creates
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 invokes
Elsewhere, the female duo invokes some breaking of the fourth wall for good measure, just as the film, at points, entertains conspiratorial views regarding 9/11, perhaps to dispel the idea that this work is solely an exercise in verisimilitude.
—
Lé Baltar, IndieWire, 17 May 2026
The Cheboygan County sheriff's office said any evacuation order will be announced via the Federal Emergency Management Agency alert system that invokes the cell phone Wireless Emergency Alerts system, NOAA Weather Radio and the Emergency Alert System via radio and television broadcasts.
—Paula Wethington, CBS News, 13 Apr. 2026
Collins also invokes Dick Gregory’s late-in-life argument that Black entertainers were burdened by liberation expectations that white male entertainers never had to carry.
—Geoff Bennett, The Atlantic, 13 Apr. 2026
Nicolao Apollo A name that invokes the Greek and Roman god of sunlight, also associated with prophecy, music, and poetry.
—Taylor Grothe, Parents, 10 Apr. 2026
Trump invokes the 2024 immunity decision, but are the justices buying it?
—Devin Dwyer, ABC News, 7 Apr. 2026
Thomas, like Kluge, is steeped in Kafka, whose fiction the novel repeatedly invokes.
—Literary Hub, 2 Apr. 2026
This population crisis feeds into a post-imperial syndrome, where the decline of empire and power status invokes a sense of loss of self-importance that gives rise to resentment and an unwavering commitment to retain great power status.
—John Rennie Short, The Conversation, 31 Mar. 2026
Thomas, like Kluge, is steeped in Kafka, whose fiction the novel repeatedly invokes.
—Giles Harvey, New Yorker, 30 Mar. 2026
Lé Baltar, IndieWire, 17 May 2026
The Cheboygan County sheriff's office said any evacuation order will be announced via the Federal Emergency Management Agency alert system that invokes the cell phone Wireless Emergency Alerts system, NOAA Weather Radio and the Emergency Alert System via radio and television broadcasts.
—Paula Wethington, CBS News, 13 Apr. 2026
Collins also invokes Dick Gregory’s late-in-life argument that Black entertainers were burdened by liberation expectations that white male entertainers never had to carry.
—Geoff Bennett, The Atlantic, 13 Apr. 2026
Nicolao Apollo A name that invokes the Greek and Roman god of sunlight, also associated with prophecy, music, and poetry.
—Taylor Grothe, Parents, 10 Apr. 2026
Trump invokes the 2024 immunity decision, but are the justices buying it?
—Devin Dwyer, ABC News, 7 Apr. 2026
Thomas, like Kluge, is steeped in Kafka, whose fiction the novel repeatedly invokes.
—Literary Hub, 2 Apr. 2026
This population crisis feeds into a post-imperial syndrome, where the decline of empire and power status invokes a sense of loss of self-importance that gives rise to resentment and an unwavering commitment to retain great power status.
—John Rennie Short, The Conversation, 31 Mar. 2026
Thomas, like Kluge, is steeped in Kafka, whose fiction the novel repeatedly invokes.
—Giles Harvey, New Yorker, 30 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for invokes
Verb
-
This creates true David-versus-Goliath scenarios, matches between the best teams in the world and those on the very fringes.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
18 May 2026
-
Scott Ellis creates these incredibly warm, playful rooms where a small group of people can really come together and tell a story.—
Shivani Vora,
Forbes.com,
17 May 2026
Verb
-
The company generates annual revenue between $500 million and $600 million, according to industry experts.—
Lyssanoel Frater,
USA Today,
14 May 2026
-
With most of the cast and crew kept in the dark to avoid any messy interference from their respective unions, the program generates scripts at a rapid clip.—
Caroline Framke,
The Atlantic,
14 May 2026
Verb
-
Din initially brings Grogu to the Client and retrieves his reward, only to have a change of heart.—
Brendan Morrow,
USA Today,
16 May 2026
-
In addition to drug experiments, Varda also brings various defense experiment payloads on its spaceflights for the Pentagon to help defray the cost, Reilly says.—
Ramin Skibba,
Scientific American,
15 May 2026
Verb
-
Combining the televote with the jury votes causes countries to suddenly surge or plummet in the final rankings.—
Glen Weldon,
NPR,
14 May 2026
-
And a lot of rain all at once causes problems for overwhelmed soil.—
Doyle Rice,
USA Today,
13 May 2026
Verb
-
Consumer weakness traditionally prompts retail investors to refocus from consumer discretionary to staple stocks, and companies like Walmart, Target and Costco have been benefiting from this thinking.—
Tobias Burns,
CNBC,
18 May 2026
-
The impact is expected to accelerate after the 2030 Census prompts redistricting in almost every state.—
Susan Page,
USA Today,
11 May 2026
Verb
-
To promote the album, Rashad’s team scheduled events not only in Los Angeles and New York but also in Dallas and San Diego—not traditionally strong hip-hop markets, but places where Rashad does especially well.—
Kelefa Sanneh,
New Yorker,
15 May 2026
-
The national debt has surpassed the GDP, Social Security and Medicare face looming financial crises, inflation is rising, families are struggling — and yet Congress does nothing.—
Letters to the Editor,
The Orlando Sentinel,
15 May 2026
Verb
-
The field sparrow produces less of a song than a beat.—
Christopher Gangemi,
New Yorker,
21 May 2026
-
Adelstein and Clements are also executive producers on ABC’s Shifting Gears, and Adelstein executive produces Hulu’s upcoming Prison Break reboot.—
Nellie Andreeva,
Deadline,
20 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Invokes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/invokes. Accessed 22 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
