as in makeshifts
a temporary replacement
the coach we have now was only hired as a stopgap until someone with more experience is found
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of stopgaps
The 29-year-old Russell and even the 33-year-old Irving are stopgaps.
—
Alex Kirschenbaum, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Oct. 2025
The agency did not answer questions about state-level stopgaps.
—Claire Heddles, Miami Herald, 24 Oct. 2025
The competing stopgaps had already failed to pass in five previous votes.
—Kevin Breuninger,erin Doherty, CNBC, 8 Oct. 2025
If Congress does not pass funding legislation or temporary stopgaps, known as continuing resolutions, federal agencies must shut down or stop normal spending, according to the United States Office of Personnel Management.
—Greta Cross, USA Today, 2 Oct. 2025
Senate Democrats have floated a procedural arrangement that would allow both measures—the Republican and Democratic stopgaps—to receive votes next week.
—Nik Popli, Time, 18 Sep. 2025
Many residents who lose housing still have their cars — which can be essential to keeping a job — and the lots are meant to serve as stopgaps until more permanent places are found.
—Blake Nelson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Aug. 2025
Foreign systems such as the Rapier and Stinger continue to serve as stopgaps.
—Kapil Kajal, Interesting Engineering, 28 Aug. 2025
Alex Kirschenbaum, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Oct. 2025
The agency did not answer questions about state-level stopgaps.
—Claire Heddles, Miami Herald, 24 Oct. 2025
The competing stopgaps had already failed to pass in five previous votes.
—Kevin Breuninger,erin Doherty, CNBC, 8 Oct. 2025
If Congress does not pass funding legislation or temporary stopgaps, known as continuing resolutions, federal agencies must shut down or stop normal spending, according to the United States Office of Personnel Management.
—Greta Cross, USA Today, 2 Oct. 2025
Senate Democrats have floated a procedural arrangement that would allow both measures—the Republican and Democratic stopgaps—to receive votes next week.
—Nik Popli, Time, 18 Sep. 2025
Many residents who lose housing still have their cars — which can be essential to keeping a job — and the lots are meant to serve as stopgaps until more permanent places are found.
—Blake Nelson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Aug. 2025
Foreign systems such as the Rapier and Stinger continue to serve as stopgaps.
—Kapil Kajal, Interesting Engineering, 28 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stopgaps
substitutes
Noun
-
Both coffee and tea can also serve as healthier substitutes for other drinks too.—
Korin Miller,
SELF,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Material World is a weekly roundup of innovations and ideas within the materials sector, covering news from emerging biomaterials and alternative leathers to sustainable substitutes and future-proof fibers.—
Alexandra Harrell,
Sourcing Journal,
6 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Stopgaps.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stopgaps. Accessed 2 Dec. 2025.
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