as in impromptu
made or done without previous thought or preparation
not bad for an ad-lib comedy routine
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in improvisation
something that is performed, made, or done without preparation
you would never suspect that that stirring speech was an ad-lib
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to improvise
to perform, make, or do without preparation
had to ad-lib constructing a piñata because she'd never actually seen it being done
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of ad-lib
Sabrina Park, Harper's BAZAAR, 15 Mar. 2023
Kyle Denis, Billboard, 14 July 2025
Being able to ad-lib was such a steep learning curve for me.
—Patrick Saunders, Denver Post, 6 Apr. 2025
The camera then cut to Tiger Woods — co-founder of the new three-on-three golf league — who broke out into a wide smile, laughing and shaking his head at the ad-lib.
—Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 6 Mar. 2025
While much of the show was scripted, Lowe was also allowed to ad-lib, which further helped solidify the show’s off-kilter, edgy sense of humor.
—Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 4 Mar. 2025
During their jam session with Bad Bunny, the group was able to ad-lib an element unique to their hometown: the tale of Jacinto, a farmer who is dragged by his cow into a ocean blowhole, famously known as Jacinto’s pit cave.
—Andrea Flores, Los Angeles Times, 18 Jan. 2025
First of all, Megan gets to ad-lib every night and comes up with really funny lines every single night.
—Juan A. Ramírez, Vogue, 22 Nov. 2024
According to Patton Oswalt, the cast would ad-lib jokes for Reynolds to say to Blade in Snipes’s absence.
—Jesse David Fox, Vulture, 2 Aug. 2024
But little did Pearson know, Key would one-up these references with an ad-lib.
—Aaron Couch, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 Oct. 2024
Adjective
At the same time, more ad-lib moments are often expected onstage, bound to keep viewers on the edge of their seats.
—Sabrina Park, Harper's BAZAAR, 15 Mar. 2023
Verb
An ad-lib should be obnoxious — sometimes — but tasteful.
—Kyle Denis, Billboard, 14 July 2025
Being able to ad-lib was such a steep learning curve for me.
—Patrick Saunders, Denver Post, 6 Apr. 2025
The camera then cut to Tiger Woods — co-founder of the new three-on-three golf league — who broke out into a wide smile, laughing and shaking his head at the ad-lib.
—Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 6 Mar. 2025
While much of the show was scripted, Lowe was also allowed to ad-lib, which further helped solidify the show’s off-kilter, edgy sense of humor.
—Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 4 Mar. 2025
During their jam session with Bad Bunny, the group was able to ad-lib an element unique to their hometown: the tale of Jacinto, a farmer who is dragged by his cow into a ocean blowhole, famously known as Jacinto’s pit cave.
—Andrea Flores, Los Angeles Times, 18 Jan. 2025
First of all, Megan gets to ad-lib every night and comes up with really funny lines every single night.
—Juan A. Ramírez, Vogue, 22 Nov. 2024
According to Patton Oswalt, the cast would ad-lib jokes for Reynolds to say to Blade in Snipes’s absence.
—Jesse David Fox, Vulture, 2 Aug. 2024
But little did Pearson know, Key would one-up these references with an ad-lib.
—Aaron Couch, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 Oct. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ad-lib
Adjective
-
That week-long session became Dutch’s impromptu 2021 debut, Kindergarten.—
Leah Lu,
Rolling Stone,
15 July 2025
-
These impromptu moments are key to career development.—
Eric Johnson,
Forbes.com,
14 July 2025
Noun
-
The text didn’t offer exact recipes—no proportions were provided—so there was an element of improvisation, allowing Marks to act as both historian and artist.—
Margaret Talbot,
New Yorker,
10 July 2025
-
Englander’s path into acting began when a music teacher requested an improvisation that hit close to home.—
Leigh Nordstrom,
Footwear News,
10 July 2025
Verb
-
Will downtown buildings in L.A. illuminate improvised lightning bolts, as happened in downtown San Diego?—
Tom Krasovic,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
19 July 2025
-
Frontman Martin then improvises a brief song after they are captured on the big screen.—
EW.com,
EW.com,
19 July 2025
Verb
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As the Panthers’ general manager from 2013 to just before the 2017 season began, Gettleman devised the rosters that pushed Carolina to four playoff berths in five years.—
Scott Fowler,
Charlotte Observer,
17 July 2025
-
Participants identify challenges in their communities and devise local, innovative solutions to address them.—
Cynthia Tully,
Forbes.com,
15 July 2025
Verb
-
Free to experiment, distillers are concocting playful new expressions that summon the sea to your glass.—
Camille Berry,
Vogue,
15 July 2025
-
It’s well established that the Trump-Russia hoax was concocted to harm Trump, but Ratcliffe’s move is a prosecutorial dead end.—
Andrew C. McCarthy,
National Review,
13 July 2025
Verb
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The future, instead, seems to belong to the teams and coaches who are willing to be a little more flexible and see their role as providing a platform on which their players might extemporize.—
Rory Smith,
New York Times,
3 Mar. 2023
-
Friends said he was talented and could extemporize about anything.—
Jacques Kelly,
Baltimore Sun,
24 Jan. 2023
Verb
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The Headway study found that some employees don’t fake the scroll .—
Bryan Robinson,
Forbes.com,
25 July 2025
-
When confronted by Crooks, both Butler and Antoon denied that the case had been faked.—
Lynsey Eidell,
People.com,
23 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ad-lib.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ad-lib. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.
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