as in dime
a very small sum of money
trying to start a business on a shoestring
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as in spindly
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of shoestring
Chris Lee, Vulture, 20 Oct. 2025
Prestonwood Christian gambled on fourth-and-one from its own 46 when Witten made a shoestring tackle from behind for no gain on Lions quarterback Luke Glass, who had a lot of open field in front of him.
—Mike Waters, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 Oct. 2025
Erik Kirschbaum, Los Angeles Times, 24 Sep. 2021
Recent polls show that public opinion of Trump is souring as former Vice President Joe Biden pulls ahead in crucial swing states, despite a shoestring campaign and self-confinement to his Delaware home.
—Justin Sink, Bloomberg.com, 12 May 2020
See All Example Sentences for shoestring
Noun
Early on, Blumhouse prioritized original IP, giving unknown directors relatively free reign on shoestring budgets to generate sequel after sequel in-house.
—Chris Lee, Vulture, 20 Oct. 2025
Prestonwood Christian gambled on fourth-and-one from its own 46 when Witten made a shoestring tackle from behind for no gain on Lions quarterback Luke Glass, who had a lot of open field in front of him.
—Mike Waters, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 Oct. 2025
Adjective
The nonpartisan Wahl-O-Mat runs on a shoestring annual budget of 100,000 euros, or $120,000, with just three staff members under the aegis of the federal agency for civic education (BPB), Pamela Brandt, project manager since 2004, said in an interview.
—Erik Kirschbaum, Los Angeles Times, 24 Sep. 2021
Recent polls show that public opinion of Trump is souring as former Vice President Joe Biden pulls ahead in crucial swing states, despite a shoestring campaign and self-confinement to his Delaware home.
—Justin Sink, Bloomberg.com, 12 May 2020
See All Example Sentences for shoestring
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shoestring
Noun
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Those close game results can change on a dime, though, and Gonzaga overhauled the perimeter group around that pairing.—
Jim Root,
New York Times,
3 Nov. 2025
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Others have built shipyards on their own investors’ dimes — something unthinkable for the primes.—
Ben Smith,
semafor.com,
3 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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The Hektoria Glacier, roughly the size of Philadelphia, is on the Antarctic Peninsula, a spindly chain of mountains sticking off the continent like a thumb pointing toward South America.—
Laura Paddison,
CNN Money,
3 Nov. 2025
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Her 2019 look featured spindly trees and orange lighting that helped set the mood.—
Meredith Kile,
PEOPLE,
28 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Use a spoon to scoop out the seeds and any stringy pieces.—
Robin Miller,
AZCentral.com,
29 Oct. 2025
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Then to reheat, warm very gently over low heat in lieu of simmering or boiling, which can cause the soup to become stringy.—
Cathy Thomas,
Oc Register,
28 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Her wispy curtain bangs were also accentuated at the front, grazing her temples.—
Ranyechi Udemezue,
Vogue,
27 Oct. 2025
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Of all the sedges available, Gerdes especially likes 'Red Rooster' for its upright tuft of coppery-bronze, wispy leaves, which provides contrast against more structured plants.—
Miranda Crowell,
Better Homes & Gardens,
27 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Soften the twiggy grapevine with sprigs of feathery broomcorn seed heads tucked between the garland stems.—
Maria Sabella,
Better Homes & Gardens,
17 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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The Santa Clarita Hart High graduate has great stuff, and has shown comparable compete, but many in the Jays’ formidable order are familiar with the lanky right-hander who pitched for the Tampa Bay Rays in the American League for six seasons.—
Mirjam Swanson,
Oc Register,
26 Oct. 2025
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Instead, there is golden boy Aaron, WWII pilot Toby, short king Iain, lanky Disney prince Tom, and Jasmine, for whom there are no words.—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
24 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Her willowy frame takes a tremendous battering as brutes slam her into tables and through walls.—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
5 June 2025
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Only two bodies remain still: Ferran’s, in one corner of the platform, and that of a young man (Jabez Sykes) diagonally across from her, tall and willowy and pale — two statues that seem moonlit while the rest of the world writhes and sweats around them.—
Sara Holdren,
Vulture,
11 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Then, there’s a creepy, reedy Charlie Plummer doing his best Caleb Landry Jones as Gary, #5, who goads other players into shedding down to their weakest points to eliminate them.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
11 Sep. 2025
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Mount developed his characterization, with his reedy voice, suspicious eyes and slumped posture, on set.—
Lauren Coates,
Variety,
4 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Shoestring.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shoestring. Accessed 6 Nov. 2025.
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