Definition of inventionnext
1
2
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

4

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 invention The invention of steel permitted the rise of skyscrapers, the automobile inspired highway systems and the internet gave rise to a whole new set of digital spaces. George C. Lee Ii, Fortune, 26 Aug. 2026 So many inventions and technology — the IV, the life-saving work, not getting lost in your car, research in biotechnology and water. Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 25 Aug. 2026 The pivotal invention paved the way for the miniaturization and mass production of electronic components, revolutionizing technology. USA Today, 25 Aug. 2026 Just as people lost navigation and memorization skills with modern inventions, bankers risk losing analytical abilities if algorithms handle all the heavy lifting, Churchman said. Hugh Son, CNBC, 24 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for invention
Recent Examples of Synonyms for invention
Noun
  • When government applies the rules consistently, businesses have the confidence to invest, innovation is encouraged, public institutions earn greater trust and the public benefits.
    Robin Rossenfeld, Denver Post, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Local leaders hail the makeover as a turning point for storm-scarred New Orleans, reclaiming a blighted safety-net icon to drive medical innovation and economic revival across the Gulf South.
    Jack Brook, Los Angeles Times, 28 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • Sanft argued his client’s account was pure fiction, and that investigators failed to quickly and vigorously corroborate it for a reason.
    Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 1 Sep. 2026
  • One of the fears concerning AI in fiction filmmaking is that the medium of cinema could lose the value of the empathic connection people have with other humans.
    Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 31 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • Thematic methodologies have been one of the downfalls of contemporary museology (and art history) generally, a crisis of collective memory and the historical imagination overall.
    George Baker, Artforum, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Most people carry extraordinary stories worth telling, and raw imagination is rarely the limiting factor.
    Coco Mao, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • Additionally, neurodivergent team members often bring high levels of creativity, problem-solving skills, and resilience under pressure.
    Julie Kratz, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026
  • Cole did worry that curators might overemphasize the diagnosis, that King would no longer be an artist but an autistic artist, and therefore a symbol of something—resilience, perhaps, or liberation through creativity.
    Laura Preston, New Yorker, 30 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • Set in 1964 and based on a true story, the film tells the tale of a young journalist who tracks down a potential Nazi officer living secretly in New York and befriends the suspect’s charming wife.
    John Hopewell, Variety, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Like James himself, the men are clever and bookish, writing letters or diaries, reading voraciously, and imagining themselves into tales of romance and Biblical comeuppance.
    Katy Waldman, New Yorker, 31 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • There's also a palpable new seam of imaginativeness among residents.
    Toby Skinner, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 Nov. 2024
Noun
  • But without freedom, Berdyaev writes, creativeness is impossible.
    Andrew McDiarmid, Chicago Tribune, 30 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • This is a dry fabrication technique that uses a chemically reactive plasma to remove material from a substrate.
    Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 27 Aug. 2026
  • The collection emphasizes elevated fabrications, including French terry, stretch knits, and multipurpose lifestyle offerings.
    Katie Abel, Footwear News, 26 Aug. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Invention.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/invention. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on invention

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster