as in improvisations
something that is performed, made, or done without preparation
you would never suspect that that stirring speech was an ad-lib
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in improvises
to perform, make, or do without preparation
had to ad-lib constructing a piñata because she'd never actually seen it being done
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of ad-libs
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
Verb
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ad-libs
Noun
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And his constant playfulness onstage helped drive the band’s signature improvisations.—
The Week US,
TheWeek,
22 Jan. 2026
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The movie encouraged improvisations, so there was no script to read from during the audition.—
Zack Sharf,
Variety,
12 Nov. 2025
Verb
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That night, the host improvises his way through more than three hours of unedited tribal council drama.—
David Canfield,
Vanity Fair,
20 Jan. 2026
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Sharon Udoh Udoh composes, writes and improvises hymns.—
Ruby Rosenthal,
Chicago Tribune,
14 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Tiffany Bendayan, a chef and baker in Miami, devises different ways to make the table a space where her daughters—Emily and Sofia—feel comfortable sharing just about anything.—
Karen Cicero,
Parents,
21 Dec. 2025
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Odysseus, the Ithacan warrior who is as celebrated for craftiness as Achilles is for brute strength, devises a clever ruse in which the Greeks place a giant wooden horse outside Troy’s walls and pretend to sail away.—
Elizabeth D. Samet,
Foreign Affairs,
29 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The administration concocts a legal rationale for a foreign policy objective.—
Editorial Board,
Washington Post,
5 Jan. 2026
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Executive pastry chef Jess Robertson, Ian’s wife, concocts desserts ranging from $4 oatmeal cream pies to $100 banana splits.—
Mary LeBus,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
15 Dec. 2025
Verb
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Each time Ivy's owner, Ryan, draws nearer, the dog fakes him out and bounds away, tail wagging.—
Tabitha Parent,
PEOPLE,
27 Jan. 2026
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Ake fakes a core breach to get Braka off the ship, with the Klingarite reluctantly leaving.—
Joe Otterson,
Variety,
16 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ad-libs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ad-libs. Accessed 4 Feb. 2026.
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