Thesaurus results for SHOEHORNING

shoehorning

verb

present participle of shoehorn

as in cramming

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

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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 shoehorning No longer shoehorning into skates never made for her, the next version of someone else’s ideal. — Marcus Thompson Ii, New York Times, 4 Feb. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for shoehorning

Verb

The situation is also symptomatic of broader strains on the country's higher education system, where grossly limited spots leave millions cramming for months, or even years, and high-stakes entrance exams leave many of them burnt out and in debt.

— Sakshi Dayal, USA Today, 22 July 2026
An early 2022 op-ed in the University of Calgary’s student newspaper described the idea as the antithesis of hustle culture, one that finds satisfaction in mundane tasks rather than cramming productivity into every waking moment.

— Allison Palmer July 7, Charlotte Observer, 7 July 2026

Definition of cramming

Verb

Reserve interest on the float is the industry's revenue model, so an era of flat supply and rising turnover pays the networks, processors and platforms that charge per transaction while squeezing the companies that earn per dollar parked.

— Zennon Kapron, Forbes.com, 28 July 2026
At one point, up to 20,000 mariners and 2,000 ships were stuck in the Gulf, with only a few vessels squeezing through the strait each day.

— The Week US, TheWeek, 27 July 2026

Definition of squeezing

Verb

Which West team has the best chance of wedging its way into the OKC-San Antonio tier?

— The Athletic NBA Staff, New York Times, 29 May 2026
The Cook County medical examiner’s office found that the fatal shot pierced Rivera’s skin near her left armpit and traveled through both her lungs, wedging itself in her ribs, autopsy records show.

— Sam Charles, Chicago Tribune, 17 Apr. 2026

Definition of wedging

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shoehorned

shoehorning

shoehorns

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“Shoehorning.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shoehorning. Accessed 29 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of shoehorning

verb

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