as in impromptu
made or done without previous thought or preparation
not bad for an ad-lib comedy routine
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in improvisation
something that is performed, made, or done without preparation
you would never suspect that that stirring speech was an ad-lib
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to improvise
to perform, make, or do without preparation
had to ad-lib constructing a piñata because she'd never actually seen it being done
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of ad-lib
Sabrina Park, Harper's BAZAAR, 15 Mar. 2023
Andrea Flores, Los Angeles Times, 18 Jan. 2025
First of all, Megan gets to ad-lib every night and comes up with really funny lines every single night.
—Juan A. Ramírez, Vogue, 22 Nov. 2024
According to Patton Oswalt, the cast would ad-lib jokes for Reynolds to say to Blade in Snipes’s absence.
—Jesse David Fox, Vulture, 2 Aug. 2024
But little did Pearson know, Key would one-up these references with an ad-lib.
—Aaron Couch, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 Oct. 2024
McCall’s ad-lib joke about beetles (as in the insect) got them the biggest laugh.
—Mike Barnes, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 Aug. 2024
Once, the teleprompter unexpectedly rebooted toward the end of a speech, forcing Biden to ad-lib while his speechwriter at the time, Dylan Loewe, frantically retyped the ending in real time.
—Josh Dawsey, Washington Post, 4 July 2024
Hand over a prepared text to lawmakers, then ad-lib.
—George Skelton, The Mercury News, 29 June 2024
After Carpenter sang her cheeky ad-lib lyrics, which included a reference to the famous indoor waterfall inside Singapore's Jewel Changi shopping mall, Keoghan smiled and immediately raised his hands above his head in applause.
—Julia Moore, Peoplemag, 3 Mar. 2024
Adjective
At the same time, more ad-lib moments are often expected onstage, bound to keep viewers on the edge of their seats.
—Sabrina Park, Harper's BAZAAR, 15 Mar. 2023
Verb
During their jam session with Bad Bunny, the group was able to ad-lib an element unique to their hometown: the tale of Jacinto, a farmer who is dragged by his cow into a ocean blowhole, famously known as Jacinto’s pit cave.
—Andrea Flores, Los Angeles Times, 18 Jan. 2025
First of all, Megan gets to ad-lib every night and comes up with really funny lines every single night.
—Juan A. Ramírez, Vogue, 22 Nov. 2024
According to Patton Oswalt, the cast would ad-lib jokes for Reynolds to say to Blade in Snipes’s absence.
—Jesse David Fox, Vulture, 2 Aug. 2024
But little did Pearson know, Key would one-up these references with an ad-lib.
—Aaron Couch, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 Oct. 2024
McCall’s ad-lib joke about beetles (as in the insect) got them the biggest laugh.
—Mike Barnes, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 Aug. 2024
Once, the teleprompter unexpectedly rebooted toward the end of a speech, forcing Biden to ad-lib while his speechwriter at the time, Dylan Loewe, frantically retyped the ending in real time.
—Josh Dawsey, Washington Post, 4 July 2024
Hand over a prepared text to lawmakers, then ad-lib.
—George Skelton, The Mercury News, 29 June 2024
After Carpenter sang her cheeky ad-lib lyrics, which included a reference to the famous indoor waterfall inside Singapore's Jewel Changi shopping mall, Keoghan smiled and immediately raised his hands above his head in applause.
—Julia Moore, Peoplemag, 3 Mar. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ad-lib
Adjective
-
While pet-sitting for a client, Valente performed an impromptu operatic meow to grab the cat's attention for a photo—an effort that worked flawlessly.—
Justin Gest,
Newsweek,
11 Feb. 2025
-
The impromptu reunion quickly escalated into full-on late-night chaos.—
Jessica Lynch,
Billboard,
11 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Ladbroke's, in London…The Committee, a smart little group who do a revue of often funny, frozen improvisations, smashing head-on into politics…The wily, eighteenth-century satirist.—
Vogue,
Vogue,
2 Feb. 2025
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What was promised as a more disciplined Trump 2.0 has actually emerged as a completely predictable pile of improvisations.—
Philip Elliott,
TIME,
29 Jan. 2025
Verb
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There were no train wrecks, although Bill Murray’s seemingly improvised schtick and a messy Post Malone/Nirvana crossover episode fell short of expectations.—
Chris Willman,
Variety,
15 Feb. 2025
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The goal was not to do the most precise impression so much as to feel comfortable enough to forget about doing all the tics and instead live in (and improvise as) the character.—
Marc Tracy,
New York Times,
12 Feb. 2025
Verb
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View 1 Images Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh have devised a biomarker test that can spot small amounts of clumping tau protein in the brain and cerebrospinal fluid, which lead to Alzheimer's disease.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
15 Feb. 2025
-
Suspicions rise amidst growing tensions in the city, and Cervantes, driven by an unwavering sense of optimism, devises a daring plan for freedom.—
Leo Barraclough,
Variety,
14 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Linda Gefen, Boca Raton The master of distraction Trump’s proposal that the U.S. take over the Gaza Strip and develop it into a beach paradise was concocted to distract us from his real agenda: demolish the government, replace federal workers with machines and give the savings to his rich friends.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
15 Feb. 2025
-
Executive pastry chef Jess Robertson, Ian’s wife, concocts desserts ranging from $4 oatmeal cream pies to $100 banana splits.—
USA TODAY,
USA TODAY,
13 Feb. 2025
Verb
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The future, instead, seems to belong to the teams and coaches who are willing to be a little more flexible and see their role as providing a platform on which their players might extemporize.—
Rory Smith,
New York Times,
3 Mar. 2023
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Friends said he was talented and could extemporize about anything.—
Jacques Kelly,
Baltimore Sun,
24 Jan. 2023
Verb
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In terms of top Netflix original films, that goes to Kinda Pregnant, the tragi-comedy centring on an awkward woman (Schumer) who fakes her own pregnancy to get attention before realising her lie might have landed her in hot water with her new boyfriend Will Forte.—
Kristan Hawkins,
Newsweek,
6 Feb. 2025
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Scammers often use these tactics to pressure victims into paying before verifying the tickets. 7) Be wary of individuals showing receipts or proof of purchase: This is not a guarantee that an individual is in possession of a ticket, and it can be easily faked.—
Kurt Knutsson, CyberGuy Report,
Fox News,
4 Feb. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near ad-lib
Cite this Entry
“Ad-lib.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ad-lib. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.
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