as in impromptu
made or done without previous thought or preparation
caught by surprise, I had to make an extemporaneous speech at the awards banquet
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 extemporaneous
As protesters dispersed, some started an extemporaneous cumbia dance party in a nearby park.
—
Alex Driggars, Austin American Statesman, 8 July 2025
The winners of Monday’s, Tuesday’s, and Wednesday’s shows went on to compete Thursday for bestest extemporaneous cultural critic.
—Bethy Squires, Vulture, 4 Apr. 2025
And Jonathan said, as [he’s being choked], was this extemporaneous?
—Mike Fleming Jr, Deadline, 5 Dec. 2024
That might explain why the Portland-via-Fort Lauderdale post-hardcore band performs with such extemporaneous vigor on Deep Sage, thrashing and flailing in a release of anger that trades blind rage for determined revenge.
—Madison Bloom, Pitchfork, 4 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for extemporaneous
Alex Driggars, Austin American Statesman, 8 July 2025
The winners of Monday’s, Tuesday’s, and Wednesday’s shows went on to compete Thursday for bestest extemporaneous cultural critic.
—Bethy Squires, Vulture, 4 Apr. 2025
And Jonathan said, as [he’s being choked], was this extemporaneous?
—Mike Fleming Jr, Deadline, 5 Dec. 2024
That might explain why the Portland-via-Fort Lauderdale post-hardcore band performs with such extemporaneous vigor on Deep Sage, thrashing and flailing in a release of anger that trades blind rage for determined revenge.
—Madison Bloom, Pitchfork, 4 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for extemporaneous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for extemporaneous
Adjective
-
Without doubt, Her Royal Highness's impromptu visit definitely left everybody overjoyed.—
Simon Perry,
PEOPLE,
4 Feb. 2026
-
But out of everything, the archive’s most astonishing component is a series of home movies that allegedly capture impromptu moments of psychokinetic activity within an upside-down fish tank.—
Shannon Taggart,
Artforum,
1 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Thompson has explored visual art since moving to New Zealand, as well as starting an improvisational guitar-drums duo called Tondo.—
Simon Vozick-Levinson,
Rolling Stone,
30 Jan. 2026
-
The president’s crackdown has adopted an improvisational approach, not an institutional one, with blurred leadership roles and no clear chain of command.—
Michael Scherer,
The Atlantic,
29 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Flamenco Vivo Carlota Santana seeks to preserve that heritage, capturing the raw intensity and intimate, improvised interplay of the performers in Tablao Flamenco, coming to Dallas as part of the TITAS/Dance Unbound series.—
Manuel Mendoza,
Dallas Morning News,
29 Jan. 2026
-
Recent Emmy nominee and beloved Broadway star Michael Urie gets to embrace Brian’s egomania by preaching its benefits in an improvised TED talk… only to then repeatedly abandon his personal belief system in favor of the show’s supportive communal vibes.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
28 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Extemporaneous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/extemporaneous. Accessed 7 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
