as in new
taking the place of one that came before
turned a towel into a makeshift skirt
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
make shift
3 of 3phrase
as in cope
to meet one's day-to-day needs
They were able to make shift without borrowing money.
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of makeshift
Wafaa Shurafa, Los Angeles Times, 13 Jan. 2026
Above the presidential portraits is gold lettering that matches the new Rose Garden sign, titling the makeshift exhibit.
—Paloma Chavez, PEOPLE, 13 Jan. 2026
The beauty of a great lightweight puffer is that it can be worn as an insert or an overcoat, and it can even be tightly scrunched up into a tiny ball to use as a makeshift travel pillow on the plane.
—Michelle Tchea, Travel + Leisure, 12 Jan. 2026
Turner left out one side of her shorter layers in a collarbone-grazing style, creating a makeshift bang.
—Lara Walsh, InStyle, 12 Jan. 2026
Within minutes, makeshift structures mushroomed in the woods.
—Paige Williams, New Yorker, 12 Jan. 2026
As the middle of winter arrives for the enclave’s 2 million residents, such makeshift shelters are struggling to keep the weather at bay while humanitarian groups say aid remains insufficient, with tents ripped apart or blown away, leaving Palestinians exposed.
—Freddie Clayton, NBC news, 11 Jan. 2026
Minneapolis police took down the makeshift barricades early Friday morning.
—Adam Sabes, FOXNews.com, 10 Jan. 2026
An igloo-like tarpaulin now covers the mound of flowers, teddy bears and lit candles outside Le Constellation bar in the ski resort, to protect the makeshift memorial from the falling snow.
—CBS News, 9 Jan. 2026
Adjective
The majority of Palestinians live in makeshift tents since their homes were reduced to rubble during the war.
—Wafaa Shurafa, Los Angeles Times, 13 Jan. 2026
Above the presidential portraits is gold lettering that matches the new Rose Garden sign, titling the makeshift exhibit.
—Paloma Chavez, PEOPLE, 13 Jan. 2026
The beauty of a great lightweight puffer is that it can be worn as an insert or an overcoat, and it can even be tightly scrunched up into a tiny ball to use as a makeshift travel pillow on the plane.
—Michelle Tchea, Travel + Leisure, 12 Jan. 2026
Turner left out one side of her shorter layers in a collarbone-grazing style, creating a makeshift bang.
—Lara Walsh, InStyle, 12 Jan. 2026
Within minutes, makeshift structures mushroomed in the woods.
—Paige Williams, New Yorker, 12 Jan. 2026
As the middle of winter arrives for the enclave’s 2 million residents, such makeshift shelters are struggling to keep the weather at bay while humanitarian groups say aid remains insufficient, with tents ripped apart or blown away, leaving Palestinians exposed.
—Freddie Clayton, NBC news, 11 Jan. 2026
Minneapolis police took down the makeshift barricades early Friday morning.
—Adam Sabes, FOXNews.com, 10 Jan. 2026
An igloo-like tarpaulin now covers the mound of flowers, teddy bears and lit candles outside Le Constellation bar in the ski resort, to protect the makeshift memorial from the falling snow.
—CBS News, 9 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for makeshift
Adjective
-
Given the actors' previous antics on the podcast, however, there's a big question mark over how sincere Glassman's new comments are.—
Raechal Shewfelt,
Entertainment Weekly,
13 Jan. 2026
-
The moratorium, which was confirmed by the league, was necessary because the sides failed to reach a deal on a new collective bargaining agreement or an extension of the current one by Friday night’s deadline.—
Doug Feinberg,
Twin Cities,
13 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Use substitutes like wash cloths and knitted pieces over the mop head.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
The Spruce,
11 Jan. 2026
-
Bakwa had an impressive cameo as a substitute against Everton recently, but lacked the same drive against the Championship club last night.—
Paul Taylor,
New York Times,
10 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Then look no further than this alternative leather bag.—
Caroline Hughes,
Travel + Leisure,
15 Jan. 2026
-
The availability of credit from alternative consumer lenders that don’t offer the statutory protections mandated for credit cards concerns consumer advocates.—
Business Columnist,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
But by the time commissioners cast their final budget votes in September, the mayor and commission had rolled back most of the austerity measures with a mix of one-time revenues and other stopgap measures.—
Douglas Hanks,
Miami Herald,
7 Jan. 2026
-
To make matters worse, Kansas City’s QB stopgap Gardner Minshew hurt his knee in Sunday’s loss to the Titans.—
Luca Evans,
Denver Post,
25 Dec. 2025
Adjective
-
After nine holes of alternate-shot, the players compete individually in Singles for six more holes.—
Keith Stewart,
New York Times,
13 Jan. 2026
-
For a harder version, try shoulder taps, which involve tapping alternate shoulders in the plank position without twisting.—
Sherri Gordon,
Health,
13 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The officer directed both men to exit the SUV as his backup arrived.—
Matthew Rodriguez,
CBS News,
8 Jan. 2026
-
Kispert has been a backup for the bulk of his five NBA seasons, all with Washington.—
Tim Reynolds,
Chicago Tribune,
8 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Newsom is certainly right that California is a great state and an economic engine unmatched by other states.—
Sal Rodriguez,
Oc Register,
9 Jan. 2026
-
To address the problem, water managers many years ago lowered the levels, but the tree islands never recovered, leaving ghosts of islands that lack the elevation to support the majestic hardwoods found in other parts of the Everglades, such as cypress, pond apple and pop ash trees.—
Amy Green,
Miami Herald,
9 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Makeshift.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/makeshift. Accessed 15 Jan. 2026.
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