AD-LIBBED Synonyms: 29 Similar and Opposite Words

ad-libbed

verb

past tense of ad-lib

as in improvised

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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Recent Examples of Synonyms for ad-libbed

Verb

The dialogue was largely improvised based on a loose plot summary posted behind the stage for the performers to refer to.

— Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 8 Nov. 2026
Mines dropped from drones lie everywhere, some petal-shaped, others improvised and wrapped in foil or plastic, so every step must be taken with care.

— ABC News, ABC News, 2 Nov. 2026

Definition of improvised

Verb

Churchill got the approval of Gilded Age showrunner and creator Julian Fellowes, as well as HBO head of drama Francesca Orsi and CEO Casey Bloys, and then concocted a way that the cameo could work without being too distracting to the audience.

— Leigh Blickley, Entertainment Weekly, 2 Nov. 2026
Gabardine, named after the world’s first breathable, waterproof fabric that Burberry created and used in its iconic trenchcoat, was concocted by Givaudan’s Nisrine Grillié and Yann Vasnier.

— Jennifer Weil, Footwear News, 27 Oct. 2026

Definition of concocted

Verb

Composers devised elaborate systems for writing music that ventured deep into dissonance, away from the rules of tonality that had governed it for centuries.

— Andy Cush, Pitchfork, 31 Oct. 2026
Kushner, in a fury, devised the salacious revenge plot that has colored his reputation ever since.

— Lauren Collins, New Yorker, 26 Oct. 2026

Definition of devised

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.

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ad-lib

ad-libbed

ad-libbing

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“Ad-libbed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ad-libbed. Accessed 13 Nov. 2026.

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Synonyms of ad-libbed

verb

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