as in impromptu
made or done without previous thought or preparation
an improvisational comedy sketch that showcased his lightning-fast wit
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Recent Examples of improvisational
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
Over two minutes, a spectrum of Black improvisational styles battle on what feels like a Red Planet, interspersed with video game chirps and tectonic-shifting airblasts that cool the magma cooked up during combat, each one building off the other’s energy.
—Tatiana Lee Rodriguez, Pitchfork, 1 June 2026
Shange describes the night as having been both improvisational and in process for years.
—Literary Hub, 29 May 2026
Intrigued by the world of espionage, Bond finds an unexpected ally in M (Priyanga Burford), who sees his potential as an agent capable of taking control in messy situations by leaning into his instinctive and improvisational style.
—Destiny Jackson, Deadline, 26 May 2026
From his early days as a teen phenom to his more measured solo work and experimentation with free jazz, Rollins was revered for his improvisational skill.
—CBS News, 26 May 2026
Sonny Rollins, the jazz legend dubbed the Saxophone Colossus who redefined the language of the genre with his inimitable improvisational skills, died on Monday at his home in Woodstock, NY.
—Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone, 25 May 2026
From his early days as a teen phenom to his more measured solo work and experimentation with free jazz, Rollins was revered for his improvisational skill.
—ABC News, 25 May 2026
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
Over two minutes, a spectrum of Black improvisational styles battle on what feels like a Red Planet, interspersed with video game chirps and tectonic-shifting airblasts that cool the magma cooked up during combat, each one building off the other’s energy.
—Tatiana Lee Rodriguez, Pitchfork, 1 June 2026
Shange describes the night as having been both improvisational and in process for years.
—Literary Hub, 29 May 2026
Intrigued by the world of espionage, Bond finds an unexpected ally in M (Priyanga Burford), who sees his potential as an agent capable of taking control in messy situations by leaning into his instinctive and improvisational style.
—Destiny Jackson, Deadline, 26 May 2026
From his early days as a teen phenom to his more measured solo work and experimentation with free jazz, Rollins was revered for his improvisational skill.
—CBS News, 26 May 2026
Sonny Rollins, the jazz legend dubbed the Saxophone Colossus who redefined the language of the genre with his inimitable improvisational skills, died on Monday at his home in Woodstock, NY.
—Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone, 25 May 2026
From his early days as a teen phenom to his more measured solo work and experimentation with free jazz, Rollins was revered for his improvisational skill.
—ABC News, 25 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for improvisational
Adjective
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The impromptu display quickly won over viewers online.—
Andrea Margolis,
FOXNews.com,
17 June 2026
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That woman may not realize it, but her impromptu photo with Padilla might now be a collector’s item.—
Michael Schneider,
Variety,
16 June 2026
Adjective
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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
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All-Stars will perform an improvised version of the award-winning podcast.—
Caroline Ritzie,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
31 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Improvisational.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/improvisational. Accessed 18 Jun. 2026.
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