as in impromptu
made or done without previous thought or preparation
stumbled through an improvised reply to an unexpected question at the press conference
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
Jordan Mintzer, HollywoodReporter, 14 Feb. 2026
Five minutes after half-time, Dominic Calvert-Lewin had the space to guide an improvised finish home with his chest, after Gruev was allowed far too much room to cross from the edge of the box.
—Paul Taylor, New York Times, 7 Feb. 2026
The film’s director and lead actor, Christopher Guest, had shown her scenes of their co-stars already seeming comfortable in their heavily improvised roles.
—Paula Mejía, The Atlantic, 4 Feb. 2026
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
Isa gives a behind-the-scenes account of an at-times improvised process on a tight deadline.
—John Wilkerson, STAT, 20 Jan. 2026
For the 60-minute monologue, which started as an improvised homage for the artist’s retrospectives at the Brooklyn Museum and MOCA Los Angeles 20 years ago, Smith sets out to help audience members get a deeper sense of the young man behind the myth.
—Karu F. Daniels, New York Daily News, 15 Jan. 2026
Davis is a master of jazz, improvised music and both traditional and contemporary classical traditions.
—George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Jan. 2026
Marcia Luttrell, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Feb. 2026
The dialogue is heavily improvised, with Davis letting the singers tell their own stories.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 11 Feb. 2026
On the next-to-last take, Lindo improvised, letting music take the place of words.
—Glenn Whipp, Los Angeles Times, 11 Feb. 2026
This means that in practice, families often absorbed costs, doctors improvised, and communities carried the burden.
—Abrar Mir, Fortune, 9 Feb. 2026
The experience feels organized rather than improvised.
—Connie Etemadi, USA Today, 7 Feb. 2026
Scarlett’s costume, in the movie improvised from a green velvet curtain, and a rare early poster from the epic film were featured at the LBJ.
—Michael Barnes, Austin American Statesman, 1 Feb. 2026
Co-written by Levy and Guest, the mockumentary films allowed the actors to show off their ad-libbing skills, as most of their dialogue was improvised.
—Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 31 Jan. 2026
Was For Your Consideration also improvised?
—E. Alex Jung, Vulture, 30 Jan. 2026
Adjective
Yet at just over three hours, and without a classic plotline, Dao can also be a patience-tester for those unwilling to groove to its improvised storytelling.
—Jordan Mintzer, HollywoodReporter, 14 Feb. 2026
Five minutes after half-time, Dominic Calvert-Lewin had the space to guide an improvised finish home with his chest, after Gruev was allowed far too much room to cross from the edge of the box.
—Paul Taylor, New York Times, 7 Feb. 2026
The film’s director and lead actor, Christopher Guest, had shown her scenes of their co-stars already seeming comfortable in their heavily improvised roles.
—Paula Mejía, The Atlantic, 4 Feb. 2026
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
Isa gives a behind-the-scenes account of an at-times improvised process on a tight deadline.
—John Wilkerson, STAT, 20 Jan. 2026
For the 60-minute monologue, which started as an improvised homage for the artist’s retrospectives at the Brooklyn Museum and MOCA Los Angeles 20 years ago, Smith sets out to help audience members get a deeper sense of the young man behind the myth.
—Karu F. Daniels, New York Daily News, 15 Jan. 2026
Davis is a master of jazz, improvised music and both traditional and contemporary classical traditions.
—George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Jan. 2026
Verb
Two shows, much of it improvised, will be staged at The Conrad in La Jolla next Sunday and that heightened, in-the-moment energy transmits to the audience.
—Marcia Luttrell, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Feb. 2026
The dialogue is heavily improvised, with Davis letting the singers tell their own stories.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 11 Feb. 2026
On the next-to-last take, Lindo improvised, letting music take the place of words.
—Glenn Whipp, Los Angeles Times, 11 Feb. 2026
This means that in practice, families often absorbed costs, doctors improvised, and communities carried the burden.
—Abrar Mir, Fortune, 9 Feb. 2026
The experience feels organized rather than improvised.
—Connie Etemadi, USA Today, 7 Feb. 2026
Scarlett’s costume, in the movie improvised from a green velvet curtain, and a rare early poster from the epic film were featured at the LBJ.
—Michael Barnes, Austin American Statesman, 1 Feb. 2026
Co-written by Levy and Guest, the mockumentary films allowed the actors to show off their ad-libbing skills, as most of their dialogue was improvised.
—Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 31 Jan. 2026
Was For Your Consideration also improvised?
—E. Alex Jung, Vulture, 30 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for improvised
Adjective
-
The Eaton and Palisades fire diaspora has played out in a sunburst pattern of impromptu moves that likely will never be traced in full detail.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
17 Feb. 2026
-
This isnt the first time law enforcement officials were involved in an impromptu heroic rescue.—
JT Moodee Lockman,
CBS News,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Each of the three crime stories — performed in English, German and French — was devised in close cooperation with the actors, who played an integral role in developing their own characters, Bauer notes.—
Ed Meza,
Variety,
16 Feb. 2026
-
Organized in a fashion, but loosely so, an outgrowth, in both spirit and practical measure, of the network of express riders devised by Samuel Adams and elevated by Paul Revere.—
Kostya Kennedy,
Time,
16 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Blueprints were rarely part of the process, which tended to be more improvisational.—
Nina Metz,
Chicago Tribune,
16 Feb. 2026
-
During various interviews last week, Minter talked about wanting to make things easier on Jackson, playing on schedule more and relying less on the quarterback’s improvisational skills to bail out the Ravens.—
Jeff Zrebiec,
New York Times,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Paul Simon, who was headed to retirement amid debilitating hearing loss, has concocted a helpful new stage monitor setup that has him back on the road.—
BRIAN MCCOLLUM,
Freep.com,
4 Feb. 2026
-
Galen concocted medicines that seem strange to modern ears, such as treating ailments like inflammation with feces sprinkled with thyme to mask the odor.—
Maria Mocerino,
Interesting Engineering,
31 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Senior point guard Sam Kelly faked a drive and passed to her right to Walker, who hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer.—
Matt Le Cren,
Chicago Tribune,
18 Feb. 2026
-
More than 20 million people watch Colo-Colo or feel some association with the club, and that kind of connection can’t be faked.—
John Hopewell,
Variety,
17 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Improvised.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/improvised. Accessed 20 Feb. 2026.
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