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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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

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
This is an impressive chip, cramming nearly 100 billion transistors onto a piece of silicon roughly the size of a fingernail.

— John Koetsier, Forbes.com, 25 June 2026

Definition of cramming

Verb

McGurk argued that, if the return of the hostages was the only way to end the war, then publicly squeezing Israel to protect civilians could paradoxically prolong the fighting, resulting in more Palestinian deaths.

— David D. Kirkpatrick, New Yorker, 20 July 2026
De la Fuente’s forwards press aggressively, while centre-backs Pau Cubarsi and Aymeric Laporte hold a high defensive line, squeezing the pitch and pinning their opponents back.

— Dermot Corrigan, New York Times, 20 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 26 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of shoehorning

verb

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