shoehorning

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 Pro Max is the one that gets the attention, cramming near-power-bank levels of capacity into a fairly standard-looking smartphone.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 4 Sep. 2026
  • The actress was surprised when, in her estimation, Jacobs was cramming more Boy Meets World into the follow-up show than she had been led to believe.
    Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 22 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian refineries are squeezing diesel supplies.
    Jeffrey Collins, Fortune, 7 Sep. 2026
  • The antitrust balloon-squeezing phenomenon is well documented.
    Reed Albergotti, semafor.com, 4 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • The splash screen that appears when loading up Orbitals, showing Shapefarm and publisher Kepler Interactive’s logos, is soaked in retro-futuristic bright neon like Apple’s back in the 80s.
    George Yang, Space.com, 1 Sep. 2026
  • The roofline is flatter, the rear compartment is more accommodating, and loading bulky stuff is easier.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 30 Aug. 2026
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

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Cite this Entry

“Shoehorning.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shoehorning. Accessed 9 Sep. 2026.

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