as in impromptu
made or done without previous thought or preparation
an obviously unprepared acceptance speech by the surprise winner
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Recent Examples of unprepared
Pushing unprepared students through high school and college diminishes the value of the degrees that students and families have sacrificed years and tens of thousands of dollars to attain.
—
David Blobaum, Chicago Tribune, 1 Apr. 2026
Stirling’s forces surrounded the unprepared Aboriginal people, taking positions across the river and at the fords above and below the camp.
—Britannica Editors, Encyclopedia Britannica, 1 Apr. 2026
Early in the pandemic, the inability to deploy reliable diagnostic testing left the nation unprepared at a critical moment.
—Charles J. Lockwood, STAT, 31 Mar. 2026
Four years into the war in Ukraine, the United States is unprepared for the radically new form of warfare that has been raging there.
—Brynn Tannehill, The Atlantic, 31 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for unprepared
David Blobaum, Chicago Tribune, 1 Apr. 2026
Stirling’s forces surrounded the unprepared Aboriginal people, taking positions across the river and at the fords above and below the camp.
—Britannica Editors, Encyclopedia Britannica, 1 Apr. 2026
Early in the pandemic, the inability to deploy reliable diagnostic testing left the nation unprepared at a critical moment.
—Charles J. Lockwood, STAT, 31 Mar. 2026
Four years into the war in Ukraine, the United States is unprepared for the radically new form of warfare that has been raging there.
—Brynn Tannehill, The Atlantic, 31 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for unprepared
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unprepared
Adjective
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Still, Gordy’s mansion in Detroit’s Boston-Edison district remained a home base, the spot for family gatherings and — in the lower-level ballroom — the site of impromptu artist performances witnessed by Terry and her cousins.—
Brian McCollum,
USA Today,
15 Apr. 2026
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The relaxed-fit camp shirt teams perfectly with wide-leg pants, and both are crafted from breezy linen that’s ideal for long days of sightseeing or impromptu café stops.—
Paris Wilson,
Travel + Leisure,
15 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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And the group’s most recent album, 2025’s Live in Amsterdam, showcases the kind of spontaneous improvised moments, including Peters’ bass solos, that set GoldFish apart from many dance acts with more strictly electronic sounds.—
Al Shipley,
SPIN,
8 Apr. 2026
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In Russia and Ukraine, soldiers have learned to protect their tanks from drone strikes using improvised nets and boxes, which cover the vehicles like a turtle shell.—
Simon Shuster,
The Atlantic,
27 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Their improvisational morning menu will draw from the cuisine of Oaxaca’s Sierra Norte and the Indigenous cooking of Martinez’s Zapotec culture.—
Bill Addison,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Apr. 2026
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In the BeatLabs area on Level 4, guests can make their own songs at a digital mixing board, and in the Level 2 Garage, small groups can play guitars, keyboards, and drums, following the onscreen prompts or staging their own improvisational jam sessions.—
Paul J. Heney,
Travel + Leisure,
11 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Unprepared.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unprepared. Accessed 23 Apr. 2026.
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