make-do 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of make-donext
as in makeshift

Related Words

Relevance

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 lag in benefits forced millions of families to make do with small collections from food banks or the generosity of restaurants. — Zareen Syed, Chicago Tribune, 5 Aug. 2026 Modern Californians have been forced to make do with Hollywood's CGI versions of the fault, which cast it as one of the state's darkest villains. — Rong-Gong Lin Ii Los Angeles Times, Arkansas Online, 2 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
  • As fishermen wrestled their catches out of flimsy fiberglass boats near a makeshift shoreside market recently, several stopped to talk with CNN, complaining that the war is ruining business.
    — Nic Robertson, CNN Money, 10 Sep. 2026
  • Unlike the makeshift sand berms built by the city, his house is protected by a natural mound fortified with resilient pickleweed.
    — Jack Dolan, Los Angeles Times, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of makeshift
Phrase
  • Some people are going to great lengths to save money and make ends meet, others are thriving and feel kind of guilty about their good fortune.
    — Sarah Gonzalez, NPR, 9 Sep. 2026
  • Every week, new households reach out in need, families, seniors and individuals struggling to make ends meet.
    — Christine Franz, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of make ends meet
Adjective
  • Dinnall said that closing schools will allow administrators to work on backup plans for nonessential technology tools, which include attendance reporting.
    — Matt Schooley, CBS News, 8 Sep. 2026
  • Three 2-month-old Sumatran tiger cubs received identification microchips and their first vaccinations Tuesday at a zoo near Athens, as part of a global effort to build a backup population.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 8 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
  • 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
  • Doctors interviewed for this story say past measures have been stopgap solutions -– for example, cracking down on unregistered clinics in Taunsa and suspending a local hospital superintendent.
    — Betsy Joles, NPR, 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 12 Sep. 2026.

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Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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