shoehorn

as in to cram
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

Relevance

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 shoehorn Disney is hardly new to the business of calculated nostalgia, but the way this film shoehorns in Chad Michael Murray’s character, Jake — despite it making zero plot sense to pull Anna’s former high school flame back into the story — seems particularly shameless. David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 5 Aug. 2025 United have previously shoehorned right-footed defenders into the left side of defence due to injuries or otherwise, and the results have been underwhelming. David Ornstein, New York Times, 22 July 2025 Cruz spearheaded an amendment to shoehorn more than $10 billion into the legislation, also known as a reconciliation bill, to save some of those NASA targets. Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 5 July 2025 The Park Ji-hoon cameo K-dramas have a glorious tradition of random actor cameos shoehorned into the main plot in creative ways. Kayti Burt, Time, 11 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for shoehorn
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shoehorn
Verb
  • Instead of stripping your skin, the new technology does the opposite, cramming nourishers and moisturizing ingredients into microscopic nano-size droplets that nudge themselves into the nooks and crannies of your skin.
    Sophia Panych, Allure, 16 Sep. 2025
  • The approach to town is via a narrow, curly and sometimes vehicle-crammed mountain road.
    Tom Mullen, Forbes.com, 14 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • My sister looked up at me and ever so gently, with barely perceptible pressure, squeezed my hand.
    Gordon G. Chang, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Sep. 2025
  • If real estate values turn soft in a region, the decline could squeeze a crucial revenue stream for cities, counties, regional agencies and school districts.
    George Avalos, Mercury News, 16 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Gospel music played on speakers, family members served chicken soup, strangers hugged each other, friends left carrying several plates stuffed with leftover food.
    Amanda Rosa, Miami Herald, 10 Sep. 2025
  • Emily Meyer tries to hide medical bills from her children, stuffing them in her purse or a box under her desk at work.
    Megan Garnai, IndyStar, 10 Sep. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Shoehorn.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shoehorn. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!