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
In the Adams formulation, the true history was about chance, contingency, and unintended consequences, about political leaders who were all improvising on the edge of catastrophe.
—
Literary Hub, 28 Oct. 2025
To confront it, community members are building new institutions underground and improvising new forms of social life.
—Robert F. Worth, The Atlantic, 19 Oct. 2025
As a member of the Soultronics, as the 13-person touring band was called, Hamilton stood harmonizing and improvising behind the man who was crafting a new foundation for soul music.
—Elise Brisco, Rolling Stone, 16 Oct. 2025
The artist, whose real name is Jesús Roberto Laija García, accidentally created the character of Tito Double P by improvising and singing in his unique style during performances in various cities across Mexico.
—Tere Aguilera, Billboard, 7 Oct. 2025
Without governance, students receive mixed messages and faculty are left improvising in isolation.
—Dr. Aviva Legatt, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
Since 2022, Wysocki has established himself as social media’s favorite cast member on Make Some Noise, Dropout’s game show in which contestants are rewarded points for improvising scenes based on comedic prompts.
—Kathryn Vanarendonk, Vulture, 15 Sep. 2025
Which is especially odd considering the many examples of their peers improvising, adapting, repurposing players to fit a role as required.
—Nick Miller, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2025
Washington is unsurprisingly mesmerizing, improvising small gestures and throwing away lines.
—Katie Walsh, Boston Herald, 14 Aug. 2025
Literary Hub, 28 Oct. 2025
To confront it, community members are building new institutions underground and improvising new forms of social life.
—Robert F. Worth, The Atlantic, 19 Oct. 2025
As a member of the Soultronics, as the 13-person touring band was called, Hamilton stood harmonizing and improvising behind the man who was crafting a new foundation for soul music.
—Elise Brisco, Rolling Stone, 16 Oct. 2025
The artist, whose real name is Jesús Roberto Laija García, accidentally created the character of Tito Double P by improvising and singing in his unique style during performances in various cities across Mexico.
—Tere Aguilera, Billboard, 7 Oct. 2025
Without governance, students receive mixed messages and faculty are left improvising in isolation.
—Dr. Aviva Legatt, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
Since 2022, Wysocki has established himself as social media’s favorite cast member on Make Some Noise, Dropout’s game show in which contestants are rewarded points for improvising scenes based on comedic prompts.
—Kathryn Vanarendonk, Vulture, 15 Sep. 2025
Which is especially odd considering the many examples of their peers improvising, adapting, repurposing players to fit a role as required.
—Nick Miller, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2025
Washington is unsurprisingly mesmerizing, improvising small gestures and throwing away lines.
—Katie Walsh, Boston Herald, 14 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for improvising
Verb
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Yet, after its ratification in 1870, Southern states set about trying to circumvent the amendment's intent by devising new ways to shape, control, and limit voting.—
Time,
Time,
29 Oct. 2025
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For 39 years, Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act has required redistricting institutions to consider racial and ethnic minority representation when devising congressional districts.—
Sam D. Hayes,
The Conversation,
13 Oct. 2025
Verb
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China has also been concocting a pretext for action.—
Charlie Campbell,
Time,
23 Oct. 2025
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But in the late 1800s, food companies began concocting products that were wildly different from anything people could make themselves.—
Alice Callahan,
New York Times,
16 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Recent reports that a number of current and former NBA players were allegedly faking injuries and trading inside information with crooked gamblers has left sports fans and media reeling.—
David Hill,
Rolling Stone,
31 Oct. 2025
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Pastrnak double-clutched, faking the slapper, and appeared to have missed his shot.—
Steve Conroy,
Boston Herald,
29 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Improvising.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/improvising. Accessed 7 Nov. 2025.
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