as in makeshifts
a temporary replacement
the coach we have now was only hired as a stopgap until someone with more experience is found
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Recent Examples of stopgaps
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
However, officials stress that these measures are stopgaps.
—Joe Edwards, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 Aug. 2025
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
However, officials stress that these measures are stopgaps.
—Joe Edwards, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stopgaps
substitutes
Noun
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After 38 minutes, Slot turned to his substitutes’ bench, bringing on Robertson for Kerkez at left-back.—
Andy Jones,
New York Times,
14 Sep. 2025
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For this reason, many people who are looking for meat substitutes often turn to mushrooms to provide some texture and substance to dishes.—
Heidi Moawad,
Verywell Health,
11 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Stopgaps.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stopgaps. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.
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