shoehorned

past tense of shoehorn
as in crammed
to fit (people or things) into a tight space the organizers of the county fair shoehorned the craft booths between the midway and the farm exhibits

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 shoehorned They were adapted from existing internal combustion engine platforms, with the electric powertrains shoehorned inside. Jonathan M. Gitlin, ArsTechnica, 12 Sep. 2025 The questions suggest that the commissioners want to see something better than what is offered at Portside Pier, where a second floor walkway was shoehorned into the project after its design, creating a sometimes-awkward experience for restaurant patrons and the public. Jennifer Van Grove, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Sep. 2025 The matches are shoehorned into the tournaments, often on outer courts and at odd times. Louisa Thomas, New Yorker, 17 Aug. 2025 In a movie full of overwrought conversations and shoehorned interactions, perhaps that’s the lesson. Elle Carroll, Vulture, 11 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shoehorned
Verb
  • My calendar was crammed with seven days of work in three.
    Nell Derick Debevoise, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
  • Mohammed Abu Salmiya, the director of Gaza City’s Al-Shifa Hospital, posted an image of six premature babies crammed inside a single incubator, and warned of imminent danger to their lives.
    Ruth Margalit, New Yorker, 18 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Or Basil Eggs Benedict, a Malasada-style doughnut stuffed with poached egg and a basil hollandaise sauce.
    Greg Mellen, Oc Register, 19 Sep. 2025
  • Many legends who were part of the WNBA’s early years—the league debuted in 1997—have shared stories about how the fledgling brand stuffed star players into narrow feminine molds that sometimes felt contrived.
    Timeka Tounsel, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • At one point, Detroit squeezed 38 points out of six possessions, turning a close game into a major reality check for the Bears.
    Dan Wiederer, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2025
  • Why American farmers are feeling squeezed It's been a tough year for America's farmers.
    Bailey Schulz, USA Today, 15 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Shoehorned.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shoehorned. Accessed 20 Sep. 2025.

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