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
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
In Russia and Ukraine, soldiers have learned to protect their tanks from drone strikes using improvised nets and boxes, which cover the vehicles like a turtle shell.
—Simon Shuster, The Atlantic, 27 Mar. 2026
Last year, British electronic producer Actress and modular synthesis pioneer Suzanne Ciani performed an improvised piece titled Concrète Waves at the Barbican in London and Barcelona’s Sónar Festival.
—Walden Green, Pitchfork, 27 Mar. 2026
Just south of downtown San Jose, about 100 people live on the banks of Coyote Creek, where footpaths and improvised bridges connect a community of tents and wooden shacks — the city’s last sprawling homeless encampment.
—Grant Stringer, Mercury News, 26 Mar. 2026
But military experts said Iran may have used its space launch vehicle for an improvised firing.
—Arkansas Online, 22 Mar. 2026
Historians often interpret the episode less as a conventional espionage mission than as an improvised diplomatic bid to explore informal avenues to negotiate as the war increasingly turned against the German regime.
—Alicja Zelazko, Encyclopedia Britannica, 20 Mar. 2026
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
None of the dialogues were improvised.
—Marta Balaga, Variety, 21 Mar. 2026
Homes, shops, and temples express individual identities, sometimes clashing, often improvised, yet always alive.
—Big Think, 20 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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
In Russia and Ukraine, soldiers have learned to protect their tanks from drone strikes using improvised nets and boxes, which cover the vehicles like a turtle shell.
—Simon Shuster, The Atlantic, 27 Mar. 2026
Last year, British electronic producer Actress and modular synthesis pioneer Suzanne Ciani performed an improvised piece titled Concrète Waves at the Barbican in London and Barcelona’s Sónar Festival.
—Walden Green, Pitchfork, 27 Mar. 2026
Just south of downtown San Jose, about 100 people live on the banks of Coyote Creek, where footpaths and improvised bridges connect a community of tents and wooden shacks — the city’s last sprawling homeless encampment.
—Grant Stringer, Mercury News, 26 Mar. 2026
But military experts said Iran may have used its space launch vehicle for an improvised firing.
—Arkansas Online, 22 Mar. 2026
Historians often interpret the episode less as a conventional espionage mission than as an improvised diplomatic bid to explore informal avenues to negotiate as the war increasingly turned against the German regime.
—Alicja Zelazko, Encyclopedia Britannica, 20 Mar. 2026
Verb
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
None of the dialogues were improvised.
—Marta Balaga, Variety, 21 Mar. 2026
Homes, shops, and temples express individual identities, sometimes clashing, often improvised, yet always alive.
—Big Think, 20 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for improvised
Adjective
-
Expect impromptu plans with friends or family and little side quests that end up being the highlight of your week.—
Steph Koyfman,
Condé Nast Traveler,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Other quirky clips included her impromptu bouquet toss and high heels nearly breaking.—
Ashlyn Robinette,
PEOPLE,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Sometimes acronyms are purposely devised to reinforce a message.—
Clarissa Brincat,
Big Think,
29 Apr. 2026
-
In a statement released earlier this month, company officials claimed the engine was devised in response to rising costs in general aviation.—
Chris Young,
Interesting Engineering,
29 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
This is in part attributable to his fully improvisational approach to song construction, writing nothing down.—
New York Times,
New York Times,
28 Apr. 2026
-
And the six actors in this farcical rom-com are united in their performance style and improvisational tone.—
Pam Kragen,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
26 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Authorities believe Simko met one of the suspects at a cannabis festival in Ann Arbor, where the suspects reportedly concocted a plan to set up a fake business deal and steal what officials said was upwards of 50 pounds of marijuana.—
Joseph Buczek,
CBS News,
23 Apr. 2026
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Composer Paul has concocted a pastiche of songs forever on the edge of our memories if not our tongues.—
Greg Evans,
Deadline,
20 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Kennard faked a shot and whipped a pass back to James.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
25 Apr. 2026
-
Hundreds faked identifying information.—
Michael Kaplan,
CBS News,
19 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Improvised.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/improvised. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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