as in impromptu
made or done without previous thought or preparation
not bad for an ad-lib comedy routine
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in improvisation
something that is performed, made, or done without preparation
you would never suspect that that stirring speech was an ad-lib
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to improvise
to perform, make, or do without preparation
had to ad-lib constructing a piñata because she'd never actually seen it being done
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of ad-lib
Sabrina Park, Harper's BAZAAR, 15 Mar. 2023
Ryan Gajewski, HollywoodReporter, 11 Feb. 2026
The ad-lib dramatically changed the scene from how Trier and Vogt had written it.
—Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 5 Jan. 2026
Puzzled, Aggie climbs the stairs and — as Nile continues to ad-lib — finds Teddy, dead, suffocated with a bag, in Cooper’s room, which is decked out to match the live feed.
—Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 14 Nov. 2025
Recently, Chance The Rapper told DJ Bootleg Kev about Mac playing a vital role in one of his most famous ad-libs, noting that the moment occurred during an LA recording session with Chuck Inglish.
—Andre Gee, Rolling Stone, 24 Oct. 2025
Urban often ad-libs comments when performing the song live.
—Emily Blackwood, PEOPLE, 2 Oct. 2025
Between the ad-libs to start the cut and rapping over drill 808s mixed with Jersey club, Cardi appears to be taking a page out of the Ice Spice playbook.
—Michael Saponara, Billboard, 24 Sep. 2025
Being able to ad-lib was such a steep learning curve for me.
—Patrick Saunders, Denver Post, 6 Apr. 2025
Adjective
At the same time, more ad-lib moments are often expected onstage, bound to keep viewers on the edge of their seats.
—Sabrina Park, Harper's BAZAAR, 15 Mar. 2023
Verb
They were encouraged to ad-lib in character as Guest collected more than 60 hours of footage before taking a year to whittle it down to 84 minutes.
—Ryan Gajewski, HollywoodReporter, 11 Feb. 2026
The ad-lib dramatically changed the scene from how Trier and Vogt had written it.
—Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 5 Jan. 2026
Puzzled, Aggie climbs the stairs and — as Nile continues to ad-lib — finds Teddy, dead, suffocated with a bag, in Cooper’s room, which is decked out to match the live feed.
—Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 14 Nov. 2025
Recently, Chance The Rapper told DJ Bootleg Kev about Mac playing a vital role in one of his most famous ad-libs, noting that the moment occurred during an LA recording session with Chuck Inglish.
—Andre Gee, Rolling Stone, 24 Oct. 2025
Urban often ad-libs comments when performing the song live.
—Emily Blackwood, PEOPLE, 2 Oct. 2025
Between the ad-libs to start the cut and rapping over drill 808s mixed with Jersey club, Cardi appears to be taking a page out of the Ice Spice playbook.
—Michael Saponara, Billboard, 24 Sep. 2025
Being able to ad-lib was such a steep learning curve for me.
—Patrick Saunders, Denver Post, 6 Apr. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ad-lib
Adjective
-
Staff here are always at the ready during the day to prepare specialty coffees for those who choose to make the lounge an impromptu office.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
14 May 2026
-
Those comments, viewed dimly by some German politicians, prompted the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media (BKM), which bankrolls and oversees the Berlinale, to call an impromptu meeting to discuss the future of the Berlinale and Tricia Tuttle’s leadership as festival director.—
Matthew Carey,
Deadline,
10 May 2026
Noun
-
Because while Sting didn’t radically reinvent many of these songs, the three men repeatedly extended songs through instrumental passages to go along with Sting’s free-form vocal improvisation.—
Théoden Janes,
Charlotte Observer,
19 May 2026
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That the overall performances feel so naturally alive and attuned to the language of adolescents also has a lot to do with the improvisation involved in the work of the young non-actors Rivilis spotted in New Mexico.—
Lé Baltar,
IndieWire,
17 May 2026
Verb
-
To survive, the Apollo 13 crew had to improvise a CO₂ scrubber from the materials on hand, things like plastic bags, cardboard and tape.—
Alan Bradley,
Space.com,
8 May 2026
-
Well after midnight, after two long pieces—and an hour of improvising—Jarrett brought the music to a delicate close.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
6 May 2026
Adjective
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Joined on his visit by son Hunter, what Fieri (and likely many viewers) discovered was a chef turning out dishes that are at once creative and accessible, improvisational yet simple.—
Ben Crandell,
Sun Sentinel,
13 May 2026
-
But seeing the improvisational group War Babies provided the clarity Short desperately needed.—
Erin Jensen,
USA Today,
12 May 2026
Verb
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Counties across the state have been pondering this crisis and devising solutions that can be accomplished in partnership with our state leaders — because this crisis is unquestionably our shared responsibility to solve.—
Monica Montgomery Steppe,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
18 May 2026
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Rue frantically offered to help get Alamo's money back, calling Faye (Chloe Cherry) up on the phone and devising a plan to get a safe key from Wayne (Toby Wallace).—
Erin Jensen,
USA Today,
18 May 2026
Adjective
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That data only reflects damage caused by airstrikes, drone attacks and remote and improvised explosive device, or IED, explosions.—
Chantal Da Silva,
NBC news,
13 May 2026
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Allison Barr/The Oregonian via AP Portland police said in a statement Saturday night that during an ensuing search of the vehicle and building, investigators located several incendiary and improvised explosive devices, some of which had partially detonated.—
Faris Tanyos,
CBS News,
3 May 2026
Verb
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And she’s spent a decade scaling her brand into an industry disrupter; Ellsworth began concocting prebiotic drinks in 2015, founding her business just one year later.—
Emma Burleigh,
Fortune,
11 May 2026
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Cocktails are concocted by in-house mixologist, Waguinho, who also invites guests from the local mixology community to arrange tastings.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
7 May 2026
Verb
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The future, instead, seems to belong to the teams and coaches who are willing to be a little more flexible and see their role as providing a platform on which their players might extemporize.—
Rory Smith,
New York Times,
3 Mar. 2023
-
Friends said he was talented and could extemporize about anything.—
Jacques Kelly,
Baltimore Sun,
24 Jan. 2023
Cite this Entry
“Ad-lib.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ad-lib. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
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