as in impromptu
made or done without previous thought or preparation
stumbled through an improvised reply to an unexpected question at the press conference
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in devised
to perform, make, or do without preparation
since the award was a complete surprise, I improvised an acceptance speech
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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Recent Examples of improvised
Jordan Mintzer, HollywoodReporter, 14 Feb. 2026
Five minutes after half-time, Dominic Calvert-Lewin had the space to guide an improvised finish home with his chest, after Gruev was allowed far too much room to cross from the edge of the box.
—Paul Taylor, New York Times, 7 Feb. 2026
The film’s director and lead actor, Christopher Guest, had shown her scenes of their co-stars already seeming comfortable in their heavily improvised roles.
—Paula Mejía, The Atlantic, 4 Feb. 2026
Flamenco Vivo Carlota Santana seeks to preserve that heritage, capturing the raw intensity and intimate, improvised interplay of the performers in Tablao Flamenco, coming to Dallas as part of the TITAS/Dance Unbound series.
—Manuel Mendoza, Dallas Morning News, 29 Jan. 2026
Recent Emmy nominee and beloved Broadway star Michael Urie gets to embrace Brian’s egomania by preaching its benefits in an improvised TED talk… only to then repeatedly abandon his personal belief system in favor of the show’s supportive communal vibes.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 28 Jan. 2026
Isa gives a behind-the-scenes account of an at-times improvised process on a tight deadline.
—John Wilkerson, STAT, 20 Jan. 2026
For the 60-minute monologue, which started as an improvised homage for the artist’s retrospectives at the Brooklyn Museum and MOCA Los Angeles 20 years ago, Smith sets out to help audience members get a deeper sense of the young man behind the myth.
—Karu F. Daniels, New York Daily News, 15 Jan. 2026
Davis is a master of jazz, improvised music and both traditional and contemporary classical traditions.
—George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Jan. 2026
Connie Etemadi, USA Today, 7 Feb. 2026
Scarlett’s costume, in the movie improvised from a green velvet curtain, and a rare early poster from the epic film were featured at the LBJ.
—Michael Barnes, Austin American Statesman, 1 Feb. 2026
Co-written by Levy and Guest, the mockumentary films allowed the actors to show off their ad-libbing skills, as most of their dialogue was improvised.
—Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 31 Jan. 2026
Was For Your Consideration also improvised?
—E. Alex Jung, Vulture, 30 Jan. 2026
Whether hosting an entourage, entertaining clients, or disappearing for a weekend, these suites represent the highest level of high-end Las Vegas accommodations—where the experience is curated, not improvised.
—Jill Schildhouse, Forbes.com, 21 Jan. 2026
The pair largely improvised their scenes together, including one where Johannes walks through a stage show he’s planned for Charli.
—Daniel D'addario, Variety, 20 Jan. 2026
Australian authorities also said that the shooters had improvised explosives and homemade ISIS flags in their vehicle.
—Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 17 Dec. 2025
Refineries are adding improvised overhead netting and shielding, for instance.
—Tatiana Mitrova, Foreign Affairs, 5 Nov. 2025
Adjective
Yet at just over three hours, and without a classic plotline, Dao can also be a patience-tester for those unwilling to groove to its improvised storytelling.
—Jordan Mintzer, HollywoodReporter, 14 Feb. 2026
Five minutes after half-time, Dominic Calvert-Lewin had the space to guide an improvised finish home with his chest, after Gruev was allowed far too much room to cross from the edge of the box.
—Paul Taylor, New York Times, 7 Feb. 2026
The film’s director and lead actor, Christopher Guest, had shown her scenes of their co-stars already seeming comfortable in their heavily improvised roles.
—Paula Mejía, The Atlantic, 4 Feb. 2026
Flamenco Vivo Carlota Santana seeks to preserve that heritage, capturing the raw intensity and intimate, improvised interplay of the performers in Tablao Flamenco, coming to Dallas as part of the TITAS/Dance Unbound series.
—Manuel Mendoza, Dallas Morning News, 29 Jan. 2026
Recent Emmy nominee and beloved Broadway star Michael Urie gets to embrace Brian’s egomania by preaching its benefits in an improvised TED talk… only to then repeatedly abandon his personal belief system in favor of the show’s supportive communal vibes.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 28 Jan. 2026
Isa gives a behind-the-scenes account of an at-times improvised process on a tight deadline.
—John Wilkerson, STAT, 20 Jan. 2026
For the 60-minute monologue, which started as an improvised homage for the artist’s retrospectives at the Brooklyn Museum and MOCA Los Angeles 20 years ago, Smith sets out to help audience members get a deeper sense of the young man behind the myth.
—Karu F. Daniels, New York Daily News, 15 Jan. 2026
Davis is a master of jazz, improvised music and both traditional and contemporary classical traditions.
—George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Jan. 2026
Verb
The experience feels organized rather than improvised.
—Connie Etemadi, USA Today, 7 Feb. 2026
Scarlett’s costume, in the movie improvised from a green velvet curtain, and a rare early poster from the epic film were featured at the LBJ.
—Michael Barnes, Austin American Statesman, 1 Feb. 2026
Co-written by Levy and Guest, the mockumentary films allowed the actors to show off their ad-libbing skills, as most of their dialogue was improvised.
—Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 31 Jan. 2026
Was For Your Consideration also improvised?
—E. Alex Jung, Vulture, 30 Jan. 2026
Whether hosting an entourage, entertaining clients, or disappearing for a weekend, these suites represent the highest level of high-end Las Vegas accommodations—where the experience is curated, not improvised.
—Jill Schildhouse, Forbes.com, 21 Jan. 2026
The pair largely improvised their scenes together, including one where Johannes walks through a stage show he’s planned for Charli.
—Daniel D'addario, Variety, 20 Jan. 2026
Australian authorities also said that the shooters had improvised explosives and homemade ISIS flags in their vehicle.
—Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 17 Dec. 2025
Refineries are adding improvised overhead netting and shielding, for instance.
—Tatiana Mitrova, Foreign Affairs, 5 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for improvised
Adjective
-
The second half of my 20s unveiled a new loneliness born from ending a 10-year relationship, an impromptu interstate move that took me from Brooklyn across the water to become the first in my bloodline to settle in New Jersey, and the existential weight of it all.—
Inés Anguiano,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
10 Feb. 2026
-
Frank Sinatra has burst into impromptu song in the bar, Michael Jackson offered to buy the hotel and Robbie Williams (who has a place nearby) is a regular in the restaurant.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Vibration testing is a ground test devised to put an aircraft through its paces without taking to the skies.—
Chris Young,
Interesting Engineering,
11 Feb. 2026
-
The show features 52 images from the museum’s collection dating from 1860 to 1940, all of which were devised using collage or montage.—
Lianne Kolirin,
CNN Money,
5 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
During various interviews last week, Minter talked about wanting to make things easier on Jackson, playing on schedule more and relying less on the quarterback’s improvisational skills to bail out the Ravens.—
Jeff Zrebiec,
New York Times,
6 Feb. 2026
-
Thompson has explored visual art since moving to New Zealand, as well as starting an improvisational guitar-drums duo called Tondo.—
Simon Vozick-Levinson,
Rolling Stone,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Paul Simon, who was headed to retirement amid debilitating hearing loss, has concocted a helpful new stage monitor setup that has him back on the road.—
BRIAN MCCOLLUM,
Freep.com,
4 Feb. 2026
-
Galen concocted medicines that seem strange to modern ears, such as treating ailments like inflammation with feces sprinkled with thyme to mask the odor.—
Maria Mocerino,
Interesting Engineering,
31 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Claude should not say the moon landing was faked.—
Gideon Lewis-Kraus,
New Yorker,
9 Feb. 2026
-
In the current digital age where images and sound can be so easily faked, a real-time, two-way interaction between the victim and the family provides the highest level of confidence that the person claiming to hold Nancy is legitimate.—
Eric Levenson,
CNN Money,
5 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Improvised.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/improvised. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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