cite

verb

ˈsīt How to pronounce cite (audio)
Definition of citenext
1
as in to mention
to give as an example cited several experts' opinions to back up her argument

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in to specify
to make reference to or speak about briefly but specifically cited a number of similar instances of people surviving plane crashes

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word cite different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of cite are call, convene, convoke, muster, and summon. While all these words mean "to demand the presence of," cite implies a summoning to court usually to answer a charge.

cited for drunken driving

How do call and summon relate to one another, in the sense of cite?

Call may be used less formally for summon.

called the legislature into special session

How are the words convene and convoke related as synonyms of cite?

Convene is somewhat less formal than convoke.

convened the students

When is convoke a more appropriate choice than cite?

In some situations, the words convoke and cite are roughly equivalent. However, convoke implies a summons to assemble for deliberative or legislative purposes.

convoked a Vatican council

When would muster be a good substitute for cite?

The synonyms muster and cite are sometimes interchangeable, but muster suggests a calling up of a number of things that form a group in order that they may be exhibited, displayed, or utilized as a whole.

mustered the troops

When can summon be used instead of cite?

The words summon and cite are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, summon implies the exercise of authority.

was summoned to answer charges

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 cite The White House blocked foreign nationals from using Mythos and Fable last month, citing security concerns, prompting Anthropic to suspend access to the two models altogether. — Tom Chivers, semafor.com, 1 July 2026 As commerce media spend approaches $100 billion and 45% of advertisers cite performance as their primary objective, the gap between data sophistication and journey execution is widening, not narrowing. — Lauren Newman, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026 In 2025, the average wedding cost $36,000, an increase of $3,000 from the previous year, Bank of America said, citing data from registry site Zola. — Megan Cerullo, CBS News, 1 July 2026 Still, Republican lawmakers in Florida and Washington have repeatedly cited Tren de Aragua as evidence of the security risks posed by weak border enforcement, making the gang a central talking point in broader immigration debates. — Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 1 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for cite
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cite
  1. mention
  2. specify
  3. quote
  4. notice
  5. note
  6. indicate
Verb
  • The department’s limited release of materials prompted outcry and lawsuits from people saying the department was acting to protect rich and powerful people mentioned in the files.
    — Aysha Bagchi, USA Today, 3 July 2026
  • There are a couple of biological facts that should be mentioned.
    — Jack G. Mell, Outdoor Life, 2 July 2026
Definition of mention
Verb
  • Harry last saw his father in February 2024, shortly after it was announced that the monarch was undergoing treatment for cancer, though the palace never specified the type.
    — Jennifer Hassan, USA Today, 6 July 2026
  • Health officials declined to identify the facilities or to specify reasons, other than saying that the long-term care industry opens facilities and increases or decreases beds based on business factors.
    — Bruce Finley, Denver Post, 5 July 2026
Definition of specify
Verb
  • Prices are typically quoted per troy ounce, which is slightly heavier than a standard ounce.
    — USA TODAY, USA Today, 1 July 2026
  • Christine Poblete-Lopez, MD, a dermatologist quoted in a Cleveland Clinic article, put it simply.
    — Lauren Jarvis-Gibson July 1, Charlotte Observer, 1 July 2026
Definition of quote
Verb
  • Court documents say witnesses noticed Lopez acting strangely before the attack.
    — Jasmine Baehr, FOXNews.com, 3 July 2026
  • Soon though, Shawna noticed some of Zaayer's strange behaviors — including scolding her grandson, getting upset over cleaning habits and allegedly showing them racist videos.
    — Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 3 July 2026
Definition of notice
Verb
  • Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller also spoke on Monday and reiterated the central bank's commitment to its 2% inflation target, while noting the pros and cons of forward guidance.
    — Sawdah Bhaimiya, CNBC, 7 July 2026
  • The announcement noted that the DMV is already using Claude to improve customer service and reduce wait times.
    — Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2026
Definition of note
Verb
  • Designed for evolving missions The latest award follows an earlier Titan procurement by JIATF-401, indicating continued confidence in the platform.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 7 July 2026
  • The motion is unlikely to pass, but indicates how deeply politicized the issue has become.
    — CNN Money, CNN Money, 7 July 2026
Definition of indicate

Browse Nearby Words

citations
cite
cited
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Cite.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cite. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on cite

Nglish: Translation of cite for Spanish Speakers

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