makeshift 1 of 3

Definition of makeshiftnext

makeshift

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noun

as in substitute
a temporary replacement when his belt broke, he was forced to use string as a makeshift

Synonyms & Similar Words

make shift

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phrase

Synonym Chooser

How is the word makeshift different from other nouns like it?

Some common synonyms of makeshift are expedient, resort, resource, shift, and stopgap. While all these words mean "something one turns to in the absence of the usual means or source of supply," makeshift implies an inferior expedient adopted because of urgent need or allowed through indifference.

old equipment employed as a makeshift

When is expedient a more appropriate choice than makeshift?

The words expedient and makeshift are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, expedient may apply to any device or contrivance used when the usual one is not at hand or not possible.

a flimsy expedient

How are the words resource and resort related as synonyms of makeshift?

Both resource and resort apply to anything one falls back upon.

exhausted all of their resources
a last resort

Where would shift be a reasonable alternative to makeshift?

Although the words shift and makeshift have much in common, shift implies a tentative or temporary imperfect expedient.

desperate shifts to stave off foreclosure

When could stopgap be used to replace makeshift?

The words stopgap and makeshift can be used in similar contexts, but stopgap applies to something used temporarily as an emergency measure.

a new law intended only as a stopgap

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 makeshift
Adjective
On the solstice, the first goal was to clear trash that had found its way onto the orchard, then form makeshift berms out of rocks dispersed around the space. Pedro Moura, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2026 The morgue that serves La Guaira is makeshift—a white tent on a dock lined with body bags and coffins. Gisela Salim-Peyer, The Atlantic, 1 July 2026 Authorities had to set up a makeshift morgue for the bodies and take DNA from the parents of some students to determine the identities of the victims. Chris Spargo, PEOPLE, 1 July 2026 Thousands of people who have lost their homes are sheltering in schools, parks, and makeshift camps. Daphne Ewing-Chow, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026 An injured man in a makeshift hospital, hoping to hear from his three missing children. Erika Angulo, NBC news, 30 June 2026 This park has become an improvised relief hub, where donations move through a makeshift assembly line. Tibisay Zea, Christian Science Monitor, 30 June 2026 The trailer was enclosed with a makeshift toilet, a sofa and camping chairs. Arkansas Online, 28 June 2026 The parking lot of a pharmacy turned into a makeshift shelter with tarps, hammocks and tents. ABC News, 27 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for makeshift
Adjective
  • Mask ban for law enforcement officers, criminal records sealing and tenant protections are among a host of new measures taking effect.
    Liam Bowman, Washington Post, 30 June 2026
  • In the videos, women share their transformations in which their post-divorce selves are often fitter, with clearer skin and a new wardrobe.
    Madeline Mitchell, USA Today, 30 June 2026
Noun
  • Haaland, a fan favorite in the tournament, will start the match on the substitutes' bench, ESPN reported Friday.
    Jaclyn Hendricks, PEOPLE, 2 July 2026
  • Mathewson noted that merely keeping abreast of the latest developments is no substitute for working with them directly.
    Forbes.com, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026
Phrase
  • Rather, those with lower incomes and who earn lower returns are much likelier in Morningstar’s simulation to clean their accounts out, using the cash to buy a car, pay for an education or just make ends meet.
    Ryan Ermey, CNBC, 3 July 2026
  • Currently, nearly 50 percent of working-age households are struggling to make ends meet.
    Melissa Kravitz Hoeffner, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026
Adjective
  • The executives who absorbed the Freakonomics ethos learned to separate correlation from causation and to entertain alternative explanations before settling on the most convenient one.
    Alexander Puutio, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026
  • Demand for alternative currencies, including the Singapore dollar, South Korean won and South African rand, is also growing.
    Hanna Ziady, CNN Money, 30 June 2026
Noun
  • Pretoria has set aside a 750 million rand ($45 million) stopgap allocation to keep clinics open, protect HIV/AIDS treatment, and revive clinical research trials — less than 10% of what Washington used to inject into the system annually.
    Tiisetso Motsoeneng, semafor.com, 24 June 2026
  • The bureau’s most recent projections, released Tuesday, show that the emergency measures taken this spring will only be a stopgap, unless extremely wet weather returns.
    Elise Schmelzer, Denver Post, 21 June 2026
Phrase
  • But a developer would need to make do with no balconies, no pool and the architectural confines that come with a stone building that was designed for trials, not open-concept kitchens and heated bathroom floors.
    Douglas Hanks, Miami Herald, 1 July 2026
  • As part of Volvo’s low-cost design, the EX30 makes do with a buttonless interior.
    Jonathan M. Gitlin, ArsTechnica, 1 July 2026
Adjective
  • The Ports, who played as their alternate Copa de la Diversión name, the Cheladas, also gave an option to give dad a shout-out on the jumbotron during a game where the Cheladas shut out the Visalia Rawhide, 8-0.
    Charlie Lapastora, CBS News, 22 June 2026
  • Fish swim by alternate contractions of aerobic muscles that run the length of their bodies in a small red band just under their skin, while their large white anaerobic muscles are used only for brief bursts.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 22 June 2026
Noun
  • While Schmid fills the role of a high-end backup, Florida still needs to acquire a starting-caliber goaltender prior to the start of the season with both Sergei Bobrovsky and Daniil Tarasov departing.
    Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 30 June 2026
  • Crucial backup is handled by the Power Cube, which features independently prefabricated 2,500 kVA Power Transfer Units and diesel generators.
    Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 29 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Makeshift.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/makeshift. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.

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