jury-rigged 1 of 2

adjective

as in clumsy
hastily or roughly constructed a jury-rigged system for supplying the town's water while the main pumping station is being repaired

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jury-rigged

2 of 2

verb

past tense of jury-rig
as in patched (together)
to make or assemble roughly or hastily we jury-rigged shelves out of cartons and crates until we could afford real furniture

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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 jury-rigged
Verb
The trade between the periphery and the core was jury-rigged to favor the latter. — Gideon Lewis-Kraus, New Yorker, 24 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for jury-rigged
  1. clumsy
  2. rough
  3. rude
  4. flawed
  5. imperfect
Adjective
  • This not only flipped the pages but also translated the Japanese onomatopoeic sounds into somewhat clumsy English equivalents.
    — Ollie Barder, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026
  • The other, in quite clumsy English, requested a very careful renovation of Ingmar Bergman’s house on the island of Fårö, in Sweden.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 22 July 2026
Definition of clumsy
Adjective
  • Even a rough one shortens the negotiation and produces a fairer number for both sides.
    — Chris Ryan, Forbes.com, 30 July 2026
  • The men were diving a reef off Duck Key, in the Middle Keys, when they became separated from their boat amid rough waters, FWC spokeswoman Arielle Callender said.
    — David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 30 July 2026
Definition of rough
Adjective
  • In the nearly 90-second recording, Varela calls the customer service representative lazy, rude and racist and asks her for her name tag.
    — Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 21 July 2026
  • Posey can deliver an absurd line with such conviction that arguing with her would seem rude.
    — Noel Burgess, Forbes.com, 20 July 2026
Definition of rude
Adjective
  • Waller correctly identifies the futility of adding more experts to central planning, which is inherently flawed, but mistakenly believes the Fed could be better without these panels.
    — John Tamny, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2026
  • Best known for playing the flawed but fiercely loyal Fiona Gallagher on the Showtime dramedy Shameless, Rossum has always gravitated towards imperfect heroines.
    — Brianne Tracy, PEOPLE, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of flawed
Adjective
  • Room numbers are handwritten on the doors rather than printed—an intentionally imperfect detail that nods to Berlin’s slightly rough-around-the-edges character.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 July 2026
  • Second, shame tolerance, launching imperfect products early, overcoming discomfort with being seen unfinished.
    — Andy Molinsky, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026
Definition of imperfect

Browse Nearby Words

jury-rig
jury-rigged
jury-rigging
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Cite this Entry

“Jury-rigged.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/jury-rigged. Accessed 4 Aug. 2026.

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