as in improvisations
something that is performed, made, or done without preparation
you would never suspect that that stirring speech was an ad-lib
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in improvises
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
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Recent Examples of ad-libs
Andre Gee, Rolling Stone, 24 Oct. 2025
Urban often ad-libs comments when performing the song live.
—Emily Blackwood, PEOPLE, 2 Oct. 2025
Between the ad-libs to start the cut and rapping over drill 808s mixed with Jersey club, Cardi appears to be taking a page out of the Ice Spice playbook.
—Michael Saponara, Billboard, 24 Sep. 2025
Verb
Recently, Chance The Rapper told DJ Bootleg Kev about Mac playing a vital role in one of his most famous ad-libs, noting that the moment occurred during an LA recording session with Chuck Inglish.
—Andre Gee, Rolling Stone, 24 Oct. 2025
Urban often ad-libs comments when performing the song live.
—Emily Blackwood, PEOPLE, 2 Oct. 2025
Between the ad-libs to start the cut and rapping over drill 808s mixed with Jersey club, Cardi appears to be taking a page out of the Ice Spice playbook.
—Michael Saponara, Billboard, 24 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ad-libs
Noun
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Snipped bits of studio improvisations and artifacts of chance collisions with other artists who happened to be in the room—a baritone guitar loop from the band, a trap 808 from a producer just passing through—form the shifting foundation for Vernon’s unmistakable voice.—
Mitch Therieau,
Pitchfork,
8 Apr. 2026
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The contrast of the narrative established by the plates is comparable to jazz music, with its rhythm and repetition broken up by unexpected and sometimes dissonant improvisations, the Art Institute said.—
Adam Harrington,
CBS News,
3 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Xi is not a transactional politician who improvises policy on a whim, who posts his intentions on social media, or changes his mind in the meeting.—
Michael Sheridan,
Vanity Fair,
8 Apr. 2026
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History shows that such a regime escalates, improvises and takes risks that appear irrational from an outside perspective but are entirely rational from within.—
Monica Duffy Toft,
The Conversation,
20 Mar. 2026
Verb
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As the doppelganger charms the internet and devises a nefarious plot to replace mankind with brainrot, Shiori must partner with other online outcasts to stop her digital counterpart and reclaim her life in the real world.—
Jazz Tangcay,
Variety,
5 Feb. 2026
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In the past, Cooper — who seems to have finally reconciled with his wife, Barb (Frances Turner) — devises a plan to stop the ongoing wars over power with Congresswoman Welch to get the cold fusion diode into the hands of the President of the United States (played by series newcomer Clancy Brown).—
Lauren Huff,
Entertainment Weekly,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
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In it, Pattinson concocts three cocktails thematically linked to his own work and three more inspired by his all-time favorite films.—
Emma Specter,
Vogue,
8 Apr. 2026
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The administration concocts a legal rationale for a foreign policy objective.—
Editorial Board,
Washington Post,
5 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Jenna Ushkowitz was a Spring Awakening costar of Lea Michele's when Ryan Murphy cast her to play the one-time goth Tina, who fakes a stutter to stand out at school.—
James Mercadante,
Entertainment Weekly,
11 Apr. 2026
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Returning the favor Kitty did for her earlier in Season 3 by visiting her in New York during a turbulent time with her longtime boyfriend Peter Kavinsky (Noah Centineo), Kitty’s older sister Lara Jean (Lana Condor) fakes norovirus to fly to Seoul and take care of Kitty post-Chuseok chaos.—
Dessi Gomez,
Deadline,
2 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ad-libs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ad-libs. Accessed 26 Apr. 2026.
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