might/may as well
idiom
1
—used to say that something should be done or accepted because it cannot be avoided or because there is no good reason not to do it
You might as well tell them the truth.
We may as well begin now.
(informal) "Should we start now?" "Might as well."
2
—used to say that something else could have been done with the same result
The party was so dull that I might (just) as well have stayed home.
Examples of might/may as well in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Two recent court decisions, which bookended Trump’s video, underscored the former President’s bind so completely that they might as well have been ordered up by Biden’s campaign.
—
Susan B. Glasser, The New Yorker, 11 Apr. 2024
Opening day of the season may as well have been Christmas.
—Joe Cermele, Outdoor Life, 4 Apr. 2024
With that approach at least temporarily squashed, the Panthers might as well free up their options to land a former NFL Defensive Player of the Year.
—Mike Kaye, Charlotte Observer, 3 Apr. 2024
Rhys might as well have a sign plastered across his forehead saying KISS ME.
—Lizz Schumer, Peoplemag, 26 Mar. 2024
Those drivers might as well be driving internal combustion engines.
—Aarian Marshall, WIRED, 25 Mar. 2024
The new Netflix series Turning Point pushes revisionist history that might as well have been lifted straight from Howard Zinn’s fevered imagination.
—Noah Rothman, National Review, 21 Mar. 2024
But the city of Cincinnati, where the movie was filmed in 2021 and 2022, might as well be a full-fledged co-star.
—Sharon Coolidge, The Enquirer, 21 Mar. 2024
The book is about post-Soviet Russia, where distrust, corruption, and propaganda created a surreal and toxic culture and politics, but the title may as well be describing the events of the past 30 hours.
—Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 11 Mar. 2024
Susan B. Glasser, The New Yorker, 11 Apr. 2024
Opening day of the season may as well have been Christmas.
—Joe Cermele, Outdoor Life, 4 Apr. 2024
With that approach at least temporarily squashed, the Panthers might as well free up their options to land a former NFL Defensive Player of the Year.
—Mike Kaye, Charlotte Observer, 3 Apr. 2024
Rhys might as well have a sign plastered across his forehead saying KISS ME.
—Lizz Schumer, Peoplemag, 26 Mar. 2024
Those drivers might as well be driving internal combustion engines.
—Aarian Marshall, WIRED, 25 Mar. 2024
The new Netflix series Turning Point pushes revisionist history that might as well have been lifted straight from Howard Zinn’s fevered imagination.
—Noah Rothman, National Review, 21 Mar. 2024
But the city of Cincinnati, where the movie was filmed in 2021 and 2022, might as well be a full-fledged co-star.
—Sharon Coolidge, The Enquirer, 21 Mar. 2024
The book is about post-Soviet Russia, where distrust, corruption, and propaganda created a surreal and toxic culture and politics, but the title may as well be describing the events of the past 30 hours.
—Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 11 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'might/may as well.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near might/may as well
Cite this Entry
“Might/may as well.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/might%2Fmay%20as%20well. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share