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

The roommates’ incompatible goals and perennial brokeness lead to side-splitting conflicts, with Shelby cramming for her GED while Kaitlin’s greatest ambition is to throw an epic island party.

— Judy Berman, Time, 11 Aug. 2026
The network had a two-way smuggling route between Algeria and Spain, transporting drugs to the African nation and cramming boats with migrants for the return trip to Spanish coastal towns, Spain’s Civil Guard said.

— ABC News, ABC News, 7 Aug. 2026

Definition of cramming

Verb

Squeeze your glutes, engage your core and drive your heels into the floor to raise your hips up to the ceiling while gently squeezing the ball.

— Andee Tagle, NPR, 15 Aug. 2026
Google hasn't explained the cut, but the timing lines up with the same memory and AI infrastructure costs squeezing pricing across the entire industry this year.

— Janhoi McGregor, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2026

Definition of squeezing

Verb

The Sox right fielder walked on the next pitch, loading the bases with two outs in the 10th, but Tristan Peters grounded out to first to end the threat.

— LaMond Pope, Chicago Tribune, 18 Aug. 2026
Lucas Erceg was picked to close but was yanked for Steven Cruz after loading the bases with no outs in 14 pitches.

— PJ Green, Kansas City Star, 18 Aug. 2026

Definition of loading

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

Browse Nearby Words

shoehorned

shoehorning

shoehorns

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“Shoehorning.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shoehorning. Accessed 22 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of shoehorning

verb

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