as in impromptu
made or done without previous thought or preparation
stumbled through an improvised reply to an unexpected question at the press conference
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in devised
to perform, make, or do without preparation
since the award was a complete surprise, I improvised an acceptance speech
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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Recent Examples of improvised
Faris Tanyos, CBS News, 3 May 2026
She was blessed with an unstinting energy and buoyancy that had her dashing off postcards far and wide, answering e-mails with improvised poetry, and cold-calling younger writers to offer encouragement.
—Pico Iyer, Air Mail, 2 May 2026
Mizrak can launch from regular runways or from improvised sites.
—Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 1 May 2026
During the last decade, Parker’s routine has fostered one of the country’s most compelling new music scenes, where players from diverse backgrounds and demographics have converged to create wildly accessible improvised music.
—Grayson Haver Currin, Pitchfork, 30 Apr. 2026
The defendant was one of two teenagers under 18 who tried to set a synagogue in Brno on fire in January 2024 by using an improvised device.
—ABC News, 28 Apr. 2026
German described the improvised but careful transport down from the nest.
—Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 22 Apr. 2026
Vargas and his ensemble of both professional and first-time actors used a semi-improvised approach to shoot the film.
—Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 17 Apr. 2026
And the group’s most recent album, 2025’s Live in Amsterdam, showcases the kind of spontaneous improvised moments, including Peters’ bass solos, that set GoldFish apart from many dance acts with more strictly electronic sounds.
—Al Shipley, SPIN, 8 Apr. 2026
Kelly McGreal, FOXNews.com, 27 Apr. 2026
For Ubach, who improvised parts of the monologue, the speech was simply an expression of nerves for Suze.
—Zoe Papelis, Vulture, 27 Apr. 2026
Bundelkhand is represented by Maans ke Dahi Bade, a lamb-and-lentil recipe improvised by Maharaja Digvijaya Singh of Sailana, while Panna finds its spot through the imperious-sounding Aash-e-Sangsheer.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Apr. 2026
Much of it seems improvised, and probably was.
—Pete Hammond, Deadline, 9 Apr. 2026
Chris Pratt improvised a nasty joke about Kim Kardashian during production of Parks and Recreation season 4.
—Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 8 Apr. 2026
Strategy cannot be improvised in war.
—Kazem Kazerounian, Hartford Courant, 1 Apr. 2026
Everything is improvised in his practice.
—Britt Julious, Chicago Tribune, 30 Mar. 2026
The Writers Guild removed Friedkin’s name, which up-set Friedkin, who retaliated by saying in interviews that the movie was largely improvised.
—Literary Hub, 25 Mar. 2026
Adjective
Allison Barr/The Oregonian via AP Portland police said in a statement Saturday night that during an ensuing search of the vehicle and building, investigators located several incendiary and improvised explosive devices, some of which had partially detonated.
—Faris Tanyos, CBS News, 3 May 2026
She was blessed with an unstinting energy and buoyancy that had her dashing off postcards far and wide, answering e-mails with improvised poetry, and cold-calling younger writers to offer encouragement.
—Pico Iyer, Air Mail, 2 May 2026
Mizrak can launch from regular runways or from improvised sites.
—Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 1 May 2026
During the last decade, Parker’s routine has fostered one of the country’s most compelling new music scenes, where players from diverse backgrounds and demographics have converged to create wildly accessible improvised music.
—Grayson Haver Currin, Pitchfork, 30 Apr. 2026
The defendant was one of two teenagers under 18 who tried to set a synagogue in Brno on fire in January 2024 by using an improvised device.
—ABC News, 28 Apr. 2026
German described the improvised but careful transport down from the nest.
—Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 22 Apr. 2026
Vargas and his ensemble of both professional and first-time actors used a semi-improvised approach to shoot the film.
—Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 17 Apr. 2026
And the group’s most recent album, 2025’s Live in Amsterdam, showcases the kind of spontaneous improvised moments, including Peters’ bass solos, that set GoldFish apart from many dance acts with more strictly electronic sounds.
—Al Shipley, SPIN, 8 Apr. 2026
Verb
With limited supplies available, the pair improvised using items from passengers and crew — including blankets and a shoelace provided by a flight attendant, the outlet noted.
—Kelly McGreal, FOXNews.com, 27 Apr. 2026
For Ubach, who improvised parts of the monologue, the speech was simply an expression of nerves for Suze.
—Zoe Papelis, Vulture, 27 Apr. 2026
Bundelkhand is represented by Maans ke Dahi Bade, a lamb-and-lentil recipe improvised by Maharaja Digvijaya Singh of Sailana, while Panna finds its spot through the imperious-sounding Aash-e-Sangsheer.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Apr. 2026
Much of it seems improvised, and probably was.
—Pete Hammond, Deadline, 9 Apr. 2026
Chris Pratt improvised a nasty joke about Kim Kardashian during production of Parks and Recreation season 4.
—Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 8 Apr. 2026
Strategy cannot be improvised in war.
—Kazem Kazerounian, Hartford Courant, 1 Apr. 2026
Everything is improvised in his practice.
—Britt Julious, Chicago Tribune, 30 Mar. 2026
The Writers Guild removed Friedkin’s name, which up-set Friedkin, who retaliated by saying in interviews that the movie was largely improvised.
—Literary Hub, 25 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for improvised
Adjective
-
Staff here are always at the ready during the day to prepare specialty coffees for those who choose to make the lounge an impromptu office.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
14 May 2026
-
Those comments, viewed dimly by some German politicians, prompted the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media (BKM), which bankrolls and oversees the Berlinale, to call an impromptu meeting to discuss the future of the Berlinale and Tricia Tuttle’s leadership as festival director.—
Matthew Carey,
Deadline,
10 May 2026
Verb
-
The diner offers certificates of completion for those who finish the trek, and devised a burger named for the route.—
Stephanie Breijo,
Los Angeles Times,
12 May 2026
-
Sashko helped settle new arrivals and soon devised other useful projects.—
James Verini,
The Atlantic,
12 May 2026
Adjective
-
Joined on his visit by son Hunter, what Fieri (and likely many viewers) discovered was a chef turning out dishes that are at once creative and accessible, improvisational yet simple.—
Ben Crandell,
Sun Sentinel,
13 May 2026
-
But seeing the improvisational group War Babies provided the clarity Short desperately needed.—
Erin Jensen,
USA Today,
12 May 2026
Verb
-
Cocktails are concocted by in-house mixologist, Waguinho, who also invites guests from the local mixology community to arrange tastings.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
7 May 2026
-
For decades, astronomers have concocted intricate computer models to predict how stars live and die.—
Paul Sutter,
Space.com,
3 May 2026
Verb
-
Amanda also faked hospital visits.—
Jessica Sager,
PEOPLE,
12 May 2026
-
The conspiracy theories — which claim NASA faked the Apollo 11 moon landing on July 20, 1969, and subsequent missions to win the Space Race, often alleging the events were filmed in a studio — have persisted for decades.—
Sarah Rumpf-Whitten,
FOXNews.com,
8 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Improvised.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/improvised. Accessed 15 May. 2026.
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