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make-do 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of make-donext
as in makeshift

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Dissimilar Words

make do

2 of 2

phrase

as in cope
to meet one's day-to-day needs She could make do just fine and didn't need anyone's help.

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of make-do
Adjective
Yet even this make-do meal felt extravagant. — Reem Kassis, The Atlantic, 11 Oct. 2025 The show has a punk rock, garage band, DIY, mix tape, basement, make-do sensibility, flowing from the band and album inspiring its title. — Chadd Scott, Forbes.com, 24 June 2025
Phrase
The Roman Catholic High School football program is being forced to make do with no restrooms or running water at practice this summer. — Joe Holden, CBS News, 15 Aug. 2026 No other compound can unlock as much energy—and any creature that goes without O2 has to make do with less. — James Dinneen, New Yorker, 13 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for make-do
Recent Examples of Synonyms for make-do
  1. makeshift
  2. make ends meet
  3. backup
  4. substitute
  5. stopgap
Adjective
  • The Wildcats thumped Colorado last Saturday in their final game at the makeshift facility, banked along Lake Michigan, that has served as the team’s temporary home for the last two years.
    — Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 25 Sep. 2026
  • Two of the usual product tills were transformed into makeshift vanities for about a dozen beauty lovers to test an assortment of serums and creams.
    — Kiana Murden, Vogue, 23 Sep. 2026
Definition of makeshift
Phrase
  • Gerber said some of their friends were going through a difficult time, including one who was working at a Texas airport's bar trying to make ends meet for his family.
    — Tracy Wright, FOXNews.com, 24 Sep. 2026
  • The increase is partly driven by rising costs of living and broader problems for families in making ends meet.
    — Ginny Monk, Hartford Courant, 19 Sep. 2026
Definition of make ends meet
Adjective
  • And the conceit doesn’t hold up, since the players all return to the stage as a backup jury, consulted whenever the celebrity judges don’t vote on an act unanimously.
    — Tasha Robinson, Vulture, 22 Sep. 2026
  • Gardner called the second lawsuit a backup plan after Blue Cross NC realized its first attempt had procedural problems.
    — Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 22 Sep. 2026
Definition of backup
Adjective
  • Applicants will have to register with the secretary of state, document a threat within the past year and receive a substitute address that government agencies must generally accept.
    — Jaweed Kaleem, Los Angeles Times, 23 Aug. 2026
  • The bill would provide participants in the program with a substitute address, shielding their personal information and rerouting their mail through the Secretary of State.
    — Sofia Williams, Sacbee.com, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of substitute
Adjective
  • However, residents say their volunteerism is meant to be a stopgap measure.
    — Colette Davidson, Christian Science Monitor, 13 Sep. 2026
  • Stopgap spending bill passes House The House voted yesterday to pass a stopgap government-funding bill that temporarily blocks the White House’s proposal to give political appointees more control over federal research grants.
    — Theresa Gaffney, STAT, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of stopgap

Browse Nearby Words

make common cause
make-do
make do
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Make-do.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/make-do. Accessed 26 Sep. 2026.

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