concoct

verb

kən-ˈkäkt How to pronounce concoct (audio)
Definition of concoctnext
as in to devise
to create or think of by clever use of the imagination trying to concoct an explanation for how the lamp got broken by itself

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 concoct Cast a spell and concoct a potion with these delightfully witchy nails. — Christina Perrier, InStyle, 28 Sep. 2026 Explanations require concocting narratives and then defending them. — Diana Olick, CNBC, 24 Sep. 2026 Navatek would concoct a research project in partnership with a university in a member’s district or home state, and Kao would make a large initial campaign donation. — William Turton, ProPublica, 22 Sep. 2026 Martha’s concocted plenty over the years, including her cider-bourbon cocktail made with apple cider, bourbon, lemon juice, ginger, and apple garnishes. — Wendy Rose Gould, Martha Stewart, 16 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for concoct
Recent Examples of Synonyms for concoct
  1. devise
  2. invent
  3. construct
Verb
  • Over the following weeks, the group of roughly 15 people spoke almost daily to trace the vulnerabilities to their common source and devise a fix.
    — Harry Booth, Time, 23 Oct. 2026
  • With her knack for devising novel solutions to seemingly insoluble problems, no one was better suited for the job.
    — Dean Robbins, Space.com, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of devise
Verb
  • Why is California — the state that basically invented environmental review — about to vote on overhauling part of it?
    — Kiara Adams, Sacbee.com, 27 Oct. 2026
  • Social media didn’t invent our instinct to compare ourselves to others.
    — Ashwini Nadkarni, Time, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of invent
Verb
  • The process was particularly intricate, as each interlacing detail on the bodice had to be carefully constructed by weaving hundreds of meters of rouleau and while maintaining the tension and precision of the corsetry underneath.
    — Shelby Wax, Vogue, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Knight said the First Baptist Church roots began in the mid-18th century, and the current building was constructed in 1846.
    — Sean Krofssik, Hartford Courant, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of construct

Browse Nearby Words

conclusiveness
concoct
concocted
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Concoct.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/concoct. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of grotesque

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Why do we 'bury the lede?'

'Za' and 9 Other Words to Help You Win at SCRABBLE
See More

Popular

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
different halloween monsters in silhouette
A Monstrous Vocab Quiz Words That Go Bump in the Night
See All