makeshift 1 of 3

makeshift

2 of 3

noun

as in substitute
a temporary replacement when his belt broke, he was forced to use string as a makeshift

Synonyms & Similar Words

make shift

3 of 3

phrase

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 makeshift
Adjective
Vargas floated groups of migrants across the informal border crossing between Guatemala and Mexico on a makeshift raft made from wooden boards lashed to fat inner tubes. Daniel Gonzalez, USA Today, 9 Nov. 2025 The Chargers ruled out tackle Bobby Hart for their game against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday night at SoFi Stadium, which means another makeshift offensive line. Elliott Teaford, Oc Register, 8 Nov. 2025 The election night party was for the freshman Miami Congresswoman of Florida’s Congressional District 27 — a district with the largest share of Hispanic residents anywhere in the state — who danced her way past the treats, onto the makeshift stage to declare victory for a second term. Miami Herald, 7 Nov. 2025 At the end of the show, following interviews with Michael Bublé and Janelle James, Consuelos and Ripa removed their shoes and stepped into a makeshift ring on the Live set, while Shevchenko made her way out to face Consuelos. Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Nov. 2025 The trio has a surprisingly good theory about the implosion of the makeshift Astral Pulse; seems like Shroud never found the original, and someone has been outfitting low-level criminals with bootlegs that are going awry like Robert’s. Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 7 Nov. 2025 To ensure that his supporters and the public do not see the charismatic politician on his transfers from prison to court, the government built a makeshift courtroom inside the Adiala Jail complex in Rawalpindi, where he is being tried. Rafia Zakaria, Time, 6 Nov. 2025 So were the makeshift rooms and bathrooms where migrants slept and showered. Daniel Gonzalez, AZCentral.com, 5 Nov. 2025 The species that are needed for Project Psyche, as identified by Torrado-Blanco, are put in plastic specimen jars and will make their way down to the makeshift lab at the Hotel Tyrol. Glenn Zorpette, IEEE Spectrum, 4 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for makeshift
Adjective
  • The interdisciplinary approach brought the duke’s life and death to a stunning clarity — indicating how analyses can shed new light on age-old mysteries, even murders.
    Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 10 Nov. 2025
  • While earning a master's degree in exercise and coaching science at University College Dublin, she was introduced to CrossFit and discovered a new kind of challenge with its emphasis on versatility and constant adaptation.
    NWA Democrat-Gazette, Arkansas Online, 10 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • The France midfielder signed from Lyon in the summer has been eased into his Premier League career after a two-month injury layoff, with Guardiola using him mostly as an impact substitute since returning to action in mid-October.
    Andy Jones, New York Times, 9 Nov. 2025
  • Private-sector sources, including the university’s sentiment survey, provide a partial substitute amid the blackout.
    Bloomberg News, Boston Herald, 8 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • Gibson chose one of two alternative maps proposed by voting rights groups that had sued over the map, both of which created a Democratic-leaning district centered on Salt Lake County.
    Joseph Ax, USA Today, 11 Nov. 2025
  • When there’s no alternative path, the question isn’t whether to continue but how to continue well.
    Dana Harris-Bridson, IndieWire, 11 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • In July, the Mavericks signed D’Angelo Russell as a stopgap solution in the backcourt.
    Christian Clark, New York Times, 11 Nov. 2025
  • Seven Democrats and one independent senator voted with nearly every Senate Republican to approve the stopgap funding bill after a more than monthlong impasse that resulted in missed paychecks for millions of federal workers, delayed food assistance benefits and air travel disruptions.
    Sam Gringlas, NPR, 10 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • Customers can show their Kroger loyalty card or alternate ID and present their military ID or proof of service.
    Tiffani Jackson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 Nov. 2025
  • The Cincinnati Police Department advises travelers to use alternate routes at this time.
    Gillian Stawiszynski, Cincinnati Enquirer, 10 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • This week’s episode — which had a Rock & Roll Hall of Fame theme — resulted in Danielle Fishel getting sent home, while Jen Affleck and former Taylor Swift backup dancer Jan Ravnik were eliminated the week before that.
    Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 5 Nov. 2025
  • Briny oysters are the star of this dish with little backup needed.
    Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 5 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • The research team underlined that the future work will explore other co-intercalants and optimize electrolytes for even wider temperature ranges.
    Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 6 Nov. 2025
  • That’s a significant contrast to other parts of the Forbidden City, marked by wide open spaces intended to represent the grandeur of imperial power and territory.
    Fred He, CNN Money, 6 Nov. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Makeshift.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/makeshift. Accessed 15 Nov. 2025.

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