as in devising
to perform, make, or do without preparation
since the award was a complete surprise, I improvised an acceptance speech
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Recent Examples of improvising
She’s assisted by Dakota (Whitney Peak), the film’s other, younger heroine, who at one point makes her way over a floating rooftop and rickety branches, improvising the acrobatics of survival.
—
Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 11 Apr. 2026
Meanwhile, New Yorkers have been improvising.
—Eric Klinenberg, New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2026
The group sings and harmonizes with the instruments, improvising every now and then.
—Nollyanne Delacruz, Mercury News, 3 Mar. 2026
That's all Masali just improvising.
—Emlyn Travis, Entertainment Weekly, 27 Feb. 2026
Daniel, Chris’s father, has been searching for him ever since, along the banks of the Vistula River, improvising methods and means of investigation.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 25 Feb. 2026
This reflects conscientiousness, or the tendency to plan, organize and execute systematically versus improvising and adapting in real time.
—Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
So neighbors have been improvising.
—Gavin J. Quinton, Los Angeles Times, 21 Jan. 2026
The franchise already has its playbook, and judging by social media reactions, Blumhouse ran it without improvising for the win.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 8 Dec. 2025
Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 11 Apr. 2026
Meanwhile, New Yorkers have been improvising.
—Eric Klinenberg, New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2026
The group sings and harmonizes with the instruments, improvising every now and then.
—Nollyanne Delacruz, Mercury News, 3 Mar. 2026
That's all Masali just improvising.
—Emlyn Travis, Entertainment Weekly, 27 Feb. 2026
Daniel, Chris’s father, has been searching for him ever since, along the banks of the Vistula River, improvising methods and means of investigation.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 25 Feb. 2026
This reflects conscientiousness, or the tendency to plan, organize and execute systematically versus improvising and adapting in real time.
—Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
So neighbors have been improvising.
—Gavin J. Quinton, Los Angeles Times, 21 Jan. 2026
The franchise already has its playbook, and judging by social media reactions, Blumhouse ran it without improvising for the win.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 8 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for improvising
Verb
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The board has also contemplated devising an explanation or message for the county’s website detailing to the public the reason for the changes.—
Molly Morrow,
Chicago Tribune,
15 Apr. 2026
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There were also signs of progress on property taxes as lawmakers on the House Ways and Means Committee advanced their tax cut proposal — although their plan remains far from the one their Senate counterparts are devising.—
Stephen Gruber-Miller,
Des Moines Register,
19 Mar. 2026
Verb
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As Gyllenhaal begins concocting her third directorial feature, could Curtis be part of the picture?—
Antonio Ferme,
Variety,
6 Mar. 2026
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Gyllenhaal, who also wrote her film, has corrected the imbalance, refashioning the story from the Bride’s perspective and concocting a protagonist of unfiltered feminist fury.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
4 Mar. 2026
Verb
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After an assassination attempt on President Andrew Jackson in 1835, the opposition party accused him of faking it for public sympathy.—
Harmeet Kaur,
CNN Money,
23 Apr. 2026
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Kimmell gained the Ducks’ zone, faking a slap shot and then curling back toward the blue line to find a trailing Haula.—
Andrew Knoll,
Oc Register,
8 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Improvising.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/improvising. Accessed 25 Apr. 2026.
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