shoehorned

past tense of shoehorn
as in crammed
to fit (people or things) into a tight space the organizers of the county fair shoehorned the craft booths between the midway and the farm exhibits

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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 shoehorned They were adapted from existing internal combustion engine platforms, with the electric powertrains shoehorned inside. Jonathan M. Gitlin, ArsTechnica, 12 Sep. 2025 The questions suggest that the commissioners want to see something better than what is offered at Portside Pier, where a second floor walkway was shoehorned into the project after its design, creating a sometimes-awkward experience for restaurant patrons and the public. Jennifer Van Grove, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Sep. 2025 The matches are shoehorned into the tournaments, often on outer courts and at odd times. Louisa Thomas, New Yorker, 17 Aug. 2025 In a movie full of overwrought conversations and shoehorned interactions, perhaps that’s the lesson. Elle Carroll, Vulture, 11 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shoehorned
Verb
  • With its 85-liter interior, the large litter box also boasts plenty of room, so your cat won’t feel crammed while using it.
    Jessie Quinn, USA Today, 15 Oct. 2025
  • Blanton says detainees were routinely denied their medication and were crammed into overcrowded cells.
    Jonathan Bernstein, Rolling Stone, 10 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • On Sunday, Jeanty was stopped for a loss or no gain on four of his 10 runs against light boxes, and overall, the Las Vegas Raiders were stuffed 11 times on 29 attempts — the most of any team in a game this season.
    Vic Tafur, New York Times, 16 Oct. 2025
  • Many pulled small children in tow or pushed strollers stuffed with blankets and toys.
    Cybele Mayes-Osterman, USA Today, 16 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Freeman took rookie Chad Patrick deep for the first Dodgers run, and his teammates squeezed a second run out of Brewers closer Abner Uribe in the ninth.
    Andy McCullough, New York Times, 14 Oct. 2025
  • The iPhone 17′s margin could also be squeezed by an unfavorable product mix and a higher bill of materials cost.
    Lisa Kailai Han, CNBC, 13 Oct. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Shoehorned.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shoehorned. Accessed 21 Oct. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!