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 same push toward cramming AI into every corner is also happening on Windows 11, where Microsoft Copilot promises to be helpful.
    — Adam Clark Estes, Vox, 18 Sep. 2026
  • The common thread among them is many, many hours spent cramming parenting and their careers into each day.
    — Tilly Berendt, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Instead, Israel's military has expanded its control to roughly 70% of Gaza, squeezing more than 2 million Palestinians near the sea's edge.
    — Anas Baba, NPR, 10 Oct. 2026
  • Kyiv's retaliatory attacks mean Russian exports are now also stuck, further squeezing global supply.
    — Jenni Reid, CNBC, 10 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • While the men were still loading their haul, bullets started flying.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Oct. 2026
  • As Veach recalled it, that began with venturing back into the Eagles’ library with a basket and loading it up with VHS tapes.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 30 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Nathan created an atmosphere of tension that backfired spectacularly by wedging a distance between himself and his deckhands and strengthening the bond between Joe and Cooper.
    — Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 6 Oct. 2026
  • 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

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Cite this Entry

“Shoehorning.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shoehorning. Accessed 13 Oct. 2026.

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