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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of invention
The strong, clear, almost naïve Quattrocento manner—with its astonishing pace of invention, its decade-by-decade advances in perspective, atmosphere, and optical finesse—once played off the polished mastery of van Dyck and Holbein.
—
Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2025
Likewise, Lenin’s invention of the one-party police state as a way to make Marx’s idea work is hardly less momentous.
—Liz Tracey, JSTOR Daily, 24 Mar. 2025
Fiber optic cables weren’t a new invention in the 1990s.
—Dan Runkevicius, Forbes, 24 Mar. 2025
The latest invention is being seen as part of this movement.
—Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 23 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for invention
Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2025
Likewise, Lenin’s invention of the one-party police state as a way to make Marx’s idea work is hardly less momentous.
—Liz Tracey, JSTOR Daily, 24 Mar. 2025
Fiber optic cables weren’t a new invention in the 1990s.
—Dan Runkevicius, Forbes, 24 Mar. 2025
The latest invention is being seen as part of this movement.
—Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 23 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for invention
Recent Examples of Synonyms for invention
Noun
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The great innovation of The Last of Us Part II was this switch in perspectives, which continues throughout the game.—
Eliana Dockterman,
Time,
21 Apr. 2025
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This means celebrating what makes our city unique, such as its history and culture, while fostering innovation and growth to meet future challenges.—
Harrison Mantas,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
20 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
The parallels between real life and fiction were haunting.—
Brenna Ehrlich,
Rolling Stone,
10 Apr. 2025
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To receive The New Yorker’s prize-winning journalism, photography, and short films, along with podcasts, cartoons, fiction, and more, sign up for our daily newsletter.—
The New Yorker,
New Yorker,
10 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Listen to this article Starting a new theater company during this perilous time for arts funding takes guts, imagination and talent.—
Pam Kragen,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
8 Apr. 2025
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Of course, assembling a team to challenge in the Premier League is extremely difficult but there was a lack of imagination in their recruitment and some theoretically key arrivals (Aaron Ramsdale, for example) came in at the last minute.—
Nick Miller,
New York Times,
7 Apr. 2025
Noun
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This experience changed my life and my entire approach to creativity as a designer and an artist.—
Ralph Rucci,
Robb Report,
20 Apr. 2025
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That edge matters—in talent retention, in creativity and in bottom-line performance.—
Ximena Araya-Fischel,
Forbes.com,
19 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Historians recently unveiled a rare 13th-century document depicting the tales of King Arthur and Merlin – and its survival is considered a miracle.—
Andrea Margolis,
FOXNews.com,
13 Apr. 2025
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That said, the tale of how a crude blue cartoon bear ran for office and actually did well despite common sense became far more relevant once Donald Trump began campaigning for the presidency.—
Steve Greene,
IndieWire,
12 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Add to that the need to build factories and fabrication plants for microchips.—
Damon Beres,
The Atlantic,
8 Apr. 2025
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Instead, each case involved egregious misconduct, including the wholesale fabrication of news stories.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
7 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Is that type of human ingenuity more impressive than someone who was born with superpowers?—
Brian Davids,
HollywoodReporter,
8 Apr. 2025
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Those circumstances are most common in the South (leave it to Southern ingenuity to figure this one out).—
Joe Cermele,
Outdoor Life,
26 Mar. 2025
Noun
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The trio is set to lead the streamer’s forthcoming Pride and Prejudice adaptation, a six-part limited-series take on Jane Austen’s beloved novel, TVLine has confirmed.—
Rebecca Luther,
TVLine,
10 Apr. 2025
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Flanagan has adapted numerous novels from King in the past, including The Life of Chuck, The Shining sequel Doctor Sleep and Gerald’s Game.—
Tony Maglio,
HollywoodReporter,
10 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Invention.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/invention. Accessed 24 Apr. 2025.
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