as in impromptu
made or done without previous thought or preparation
a spur-of-the-moment trip to the zoo
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Recent Examples of spur-of-the-moment
Authorities say Spikes-Hopkins and William didn’t know each other and had a spur-of-the-moment confrontation just before the shooting.
—
Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 13 Jan. 2026
And that was several weeks before Johnson pulled his shirt off after a statement 24-15 Black Friday victory over the Eagles, some spur-of-the-moment rambunctiousness that activated a free hot dog promotion at The Wiener’s Circle in Chicago.
—Dan Wiederer, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2026
Yet this week’s giveaway, including the free beer and ice cream, was spur-of-the-moment, Dwan said, after Rice's win last week improved the Owls to 5-5, one win away from becoming eligible for a bowl game.
—Andrew Greif, NBC news, 21 Nov. 2025
Watson, in an apparent spur-of-the-moment remark, announced that the project would devote 3 to 5 percent of its budget to the study of bioethics.
—Nell Greenfieldboyce, NPR, 7 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for spur-of-the-moment
Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 13 Jan. 2026
And that was several weeks before Johnson pulled his shirt off after a statement 24-15 Black Friday victory over the Eagles, some spur-of-the-moment rambunctiousness that activated a free hot dog promotion at The Wiener’s Circle in Chicago.
—Dan Wiederer, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2026
Yet this week’s giveaway, including the free beer and ice cream, was spur-of-the-moment, Dwan said, after Rice's win last week improved the Owls to 5-5, one win away from becoming eligible for a bowl game.
—Andrew Greif, NBC news, 21 Nov. 2025
Watson, in an apparent spur-of-the-moment remark, announced that the project would devote 3 to 5 percent of its budget to the study of bioethics.
—Nell Greenfieldboyce, NPR, 7 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for spur-of-the-moment
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spur-of-the-moment
Adjective
-
Instead of choosing one, Haze turned the process into an impromptu auction, asking buyers to bid against each other in $100,000 increments.—
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
27 May 2026
-
His father, a volcano-curious engineer, drove him to the airport, where the elder Einarsson had convinced an airline pilot to take an impromptu flight over the new volcano.—
Quanta Magazine,
Quanta Magazine,
26 May 2026
Adjective
-
In March, a man bearing an AR-15-style rifle crashed a car loaded with improvised explosives into a Michigan Jewish preschool near dismissal time.—
David Frum,
The Atlantic,
21 May 2026
-
The over 13-minute uncut interview shows the rapper thoroughly unsettling Colbert, in an improvised rap about, among other things, a romantic relationship between the pair of them.—
Kelly Lawler,
USA Today,
20 May 2026
Adjective
-
Intrigued by the world of espionage, Bond finds an unexpected ally in M (Priyanga Burford), who sees his potential as an agent capable of taking control in messy situations by leaning into his instinctive and improvisational style.—
Destiny Jackson,
Deadline,
26 May 2026
-
From his early days as a teen phenom to his more measured solo work and experimentation with free jazz, Rollins was revered for his improvisational skill.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
26 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Spur-of-the-moment.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spur-of-the-moment. Accessed 29 May. 2026.
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