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
The extemporaneous talk included Biblical references and warm shoutouts to locals in the audience.
—
CBS News, 5 Feb. 2026
After his turn, English let out a sigh, exhausted by all the extemporaneous scribing.
—Dan Greene, New Yorker, 26 Jan. 2026
Where the ponderous fire-roads invited a slow, deliberate pace to space our kidneys, the combination of hilly terrain and a slick surface demanded a more extemporaneous approach to conserving momentum.
—Byron Hurd, The Drive, 22 Jan. 2026
In 1962, Tillie Olsen gave a largely extemporaneous talk at Harvard’s Radcliffe Institute.
—Literary Hub, 15 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for extemporaneous
CBS News, 5 Feb. 2026
After his turn, English let out a sigh, exhausted by all the extemporaneous scribing.
—Dan Greene, New Yorker, 26 Jan. 2026
Where the ponderous fire-roads invited a slow, deliberate pace to space our kidneys, the combination of hilly terrain and a slick surface demanded a more extemporaneous approach to conserving momentum.
—Byron Hurd, The Drive, 22 Jan. 2026
In 1962, Tillie Olsen gave a largely extemporaneous talk at Harvard’s Radcliffe Institute.
—Literary Hub, 15 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for extemporaneous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for extemporaneous
Adjective
-
The impromptu choir, alongside dozens of others in the audience, was advocating for cuts to the Sacramento Police Department in favor of funding youth violence intervention, a community ambassador program, homelessness services and fee waivers for underserved residents.—
Jennah Pendleton,
Sacbee.com,
10 June 2026
-
Cole spent February driving around the country for impromptu fan meets, peddling CDs from the trunk of his pre-stardom Honda Civic.—
John Kennedy,
VIBE.com,
9 June 2026
Adjective
-
Director Josh Rowland describes the new improvisational show as set in a place where bounty hunters with empty pockets chase high-stakes outlaws through a gritty solar system trying to make a big score.—
Pam Kragen,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
4 June 2026
-
All of those skills are especially important on clay and grass, surfaces where players have to be more creative and improvisational.—
Matthew Futterman,
New York Times,
3 June 2026
Adjective
-
Garbage piles now choke nearly every Havana street corner, filling neighborhoods with stench, flies and rats as residents navigate improvised dumps outside homes, hospitals and busy thoroughfares.—
Andrea Rodríguez,
Los Angeles Times,
4 June 2026
-
All-Stars will perform an improvised version of the award-winning podcast.—
Caroline Ritzie,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
31 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Extemporaneous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/extemporaneous. Accessed 12 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
