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
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Recent Examples of improvised
Chantal Da Silva, NBC news, 13 May 2026
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
She was blessed with an unstinting energy and buoyancy that had her dashing off postcards far and wide, answering e-mails with improvised poetry, and cold-calling younger writers to offer encouragement.
—Pico Iyer, Air Mail, 2 May 2026
Mizrak can launch from regular runways or from improvised sites.
—Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 1 May 2026
During the last decade, Parker’s routine has fostered one of the country’s most compelling new music scenes, where players from diverse backgrounds and demographics have converged to create wildly accessible improvised music.
—Grayson Haver Currin, Pitchfork, 30 Apr. 2026
The defendant was one of two teenagers under 18 who tried to set a synagogue in Brno on fire in January 2024 by using an improvised device.
—ABC News, 28 Apr. 2026
German described the improvised but careful transport down from the nest.
—Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 22 Apr. 2026
Vargas and his ensemble of both professional and first-time actors used a semi-improvised approach to shoot the film.
—Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 17 Apr. 2026
Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 17 May 2026
With limited supplies available, the pair improvised using items from passengers and crew — including blankets and a shoelace provided by a flight attendant, the outlet noted.
—Kelly McGreal, FOXNews.com, 27 Apr. 2026
For Ubach, who improvised parts of the monologue, the speech was simply an expression of nerves for Suze.
—Zoe Papelis, Vulture, 27 Apr. 2026
Bundelkhand is represented by Maans ke Dahi Bade, a lamb-and-lentil recipe improvised by Maharaja Digvijaya Singh of Sailana, while Panna finds its spot through the imperious-sounding Aash-e-Sangsheer.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Apr. 2026
Much of it seems improvised, and probably was.
—Pete Hammond, Deadline, 9 Apr. 2026
Chris Pratt improvised a nasty joke about Kim Kardashian during production of Parks and Recreation season 4.
—Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 8 Apr. 2026
Strategy cannot be improvised in war.
—Kazem Kazerounian, Hartford Courant, 1 Apr. 2026
Everything is improvised in his practice.
—Britt Julious, Chicago Tribune, 30 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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
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
She was blessed with an unstinting energy and buoyancy that had her dashing off postcards far and wide, answering e-mails with improvised poetry, and cold-calling younger writers to offer encouragement.
—Pico Iyer, Air Mail, 2 May 2026
Mizrak can launch from regular runways or from improvised sites.
—Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 1 May 2026
During the last decade, Parker’s routine has fostered one of the country’s most compelling new music scenes, where players from diverse backgrounds and demographics have converged to create wildly accessible improvised music.
—Grayson Haver Currin, Pitchfork, 30 Apr. 2026
The defendant was one of two teenagers under 18 who tried to set a synagogue in Brno on fire in January 2024 by using an improvised device.
—ABC News, 28 Apr. 2026
German described the improvised but careful transport down from the nest.
—Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 22 Apr. 2026
Vargas and his ensemble of both professional and first-time actors used a semi-improvised approach to shoot the film.
—Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 17 Apr. 2026
Verb
Even the wiring had to be improvised at scale, with metal rods used in place of traditional jumper wires, since no off-the-shelf equivalents exist for a project of this size.
—Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 17 May 2026
With limited supplies available, the pair improvised using items from passengers and crew — including blankets and a shoelace provided by a flight attendant, the outlet noted.
—Kelly McGreal, FOXNews.com, 27 Apr. 2026
For Ubach, who improvised parts of the monologue, the speech was simply an expression of nerves for Suze.
—Zoe Papelis, Vulture, 27 Apr. 2026
Bundelkhand is represented by Maans ke Dahi Bade, a lamb-and-lentil recipe improvised by Maharaja Digvijaya Singh of Sailana, while Panna finds its spot through the imperious-sounding Aash-e-Sangsheer.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Apr. 2026
Much of it seems improvised, and probably was.
—Pete Hammond, Deadline, 9 Apr. 2026
Chris Pratt improvised a nasty joke about Kim Kardashian during production of Parks and Recreation season 4.
—Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 8 Apr. 2026
Strategy cannot be improvised in war.
—Kazem Kazerounian, Hartford Courant, 1 Apr. 2026
Everything is improvised in his practice.
—Britt Julious, Chicago Tribune, 30 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for improvised
Adjective
-
But the studio’s initial footage and photos certainly led many to assume this was an impromptu moment, and media outlets covered the stunt without knowing the lucky tourists were hand-picked by the studio.—
James Hibberd,
HollywoodReporter,
18 May 2026
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In an Instagram carousel posted on Tuesday, April 21, the mogul shared snaps from what appears to be an impromptu photo shoot in her home — with her massive wall of Hermès serving as a backdrop.—
Catherine Santino,
PEOPLE,
14 May 2026
Verb
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The initial voting rules for the National Baseball Hall of Fame were devised in 1936 by its’ board of directors, led by National League President Ford Frick.—
Chuck Murr,
Forbes.com,
17 May 2026
-
Wealthy people have also devised tax avoidance strategies.—
Nathaniel Meyersohn,
CNN Money,
15 May 2026
Adjective
-
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
-
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
-
For decades, astronomers have concocted intricate computer models to predict how stars live and die.—
Paul Sutter,
Space.com,
3 May 2026
Verb
-
Stan had faked his death in a fire, abandoning his wife and two children.—
Stephanie Nolasco,
FOXNews.com,
16 May 2026
-
Mind you, the ShipSpotting Vietnam channel has seen fit to slap an egregiously dishonest thumbnail on this video, clearly faked up using AI.—
Loz Blain
May 14,
New Atlas,
14 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Improvised.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/improvised. Accessed 22 May. 2026.
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