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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
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 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 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
  • Abdel Gelil is now sheltering with family in the southwestern city of Taiz, while others are sleeping in the streets or erecting makeshift tents out of plastic.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 17 Sep. 2026
  • Quigley's garage is a makeshift studio, and the piano is her canvas.
    — Noel Brennan, CBS News, 17 Sep. 2026
Definition of makeshift
Phrase
  • Augustave took the food delivery job with DoorDash to help the family make ends meet after losing his TPS this summer.
    — Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 17 Sep. 2026
  • At the time, Mullally was rising to fame after two seasons of Will & Grace, while Offerman was still struggling to make ends meet and living on a couch in a friend’s basement.
    — Giovana Gelhoren, InStyle, 15 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 25 Sep. 2026.

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