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
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Example Sentences
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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
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Videos of every speech, impromptu press conference and gaff circulate on social media.
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The impromptu match, published on X June 20, formed part of NASA's push to explain how space relates to soccer.
Adjective
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At the same time, Wilde wanted an improvisational rehearsal process in which the actors could discover and breathe life into the characters.
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The wild card is Chicago alto saxophonist Lenard Simpson, a prodigious young player known for his impassioned improvisational flights.
Adjective
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Across La Guaira, the coastal state hardest-hit by the disaster, and in parts of Caracas, thousands of residents are spending nights outdoors in plazas, parks, sports courts and improvised encampments, sleeping on mattresses, blankets and folding chairs.
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Eventually, the rewrite and actors workshop rehearsal combined — a two-week period in which Jones, McCormick, Wilde, Rogen, Cruz, and Norton acted out, improvised scenes, and, most importantly, talked about characters.
Cite this Entry
“Extemporaneous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/extemporaneous. Accessed 2 Jul. 2026.
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