make do 1 of 2
phrase
as in cope
to meet one's day-to-day needs
She could make do just fine and didn't need anyone's help.
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in makeshift
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of make-do
Sheri Castle, Southern Living, 6 Aug. 2025
The videos show more than a dozen people in a cramped, windowless room apparently wearing the clothes they were detained in and sleeping on make-do beds of aluminum blankets.
—Molly Crane-Newman, New York Daily News, 23 July 2025
The show has a punk rock, garage band, DIY, mix tape, basement, make-do sensibility, flowing from the band and album inspiring its title.
—Chadd Scott, Forbes.com, 24 June 2025
Some were make-do solutions installed by IT and not documented, and others were put there by employees tired of waiting for more storage.
—ArsTechnica, 26 May 2025
While teasing the reader with questions about the child’s paternity, Lamont’s story of a make-do family revels in the often comically porous borders of faith, home, and adulthood.
—The New Yorker, 22 Jan. 2025
Many of its most successful innovations on the battlefield are the result of having to make-do, or turning to unconventional means to accomplish a mission.
—Kyle Mizokami, Popular Mechanics, 24 Feb. 2023
Phrase
Despite its make-do simplicity, bulldog gravy is delicious when made with flavorful fat, such as from smoky bacon.
—Sheri Castle, Southern Living, 6 Aug. 2025
The videos show more than a dozen people in a cramped, windowless room apparently wearing the clothes they were detained in and sleeping on make-do beds of aluminum blankets.
—Molly Crane-Newman, New York Daily News, 23 July 2025
The show has a punk rock, garage band, DIY, mix tape, basement, make-do sensibility, flowing from the band and album inspiring its title.
—Chadd Scott, Forbes.com, 24 June 2025
Some were make-do solutions installed by IT and not documented, and others were put there by employees tired of waiting for more storage.
—ArsTechnica, 26 May 2025
While teasing the reader with questions about the child’s paternity, Lamont’s story of a make-do family revels in the often comically porous borders of faith, home, and adulthood.
—The New Yorker, 22 Jan. 2025
Many of its most successful innovations on the battlefield are the result of having to make-do, or turning to unconventional means to accomplish a mission.
—Kyle Mizokami, Popular Mechanics, 24 Feb. 2023
Recent Examples of Synonyms for make-do
Adjective
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In six months, the site has grown from 600 people fleeing gang attacks in nearby Delmas 30 to 5,000 people from all over the capital, sheltering in packed government offices and makeshift shacks.—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
15 Sep. 2025
-
When the comics got on the makeshift stage, hardly anyone was even looking at us.—
Kathryn VanArendonk,
Vulture,
15 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Within 24 to 48 hours of quitting carbs, your glycogen stores—the body's backup energy supply—start to run out.—
Caitlin Pagán,
Verywell Health,
11 Sep. 2025
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Those who only fantasized about positive outcomes showed lower systolic blood pressure than those who visualized success and then thought through potential obstacles and backup plans.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
11 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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On a whim, the 30-year-old applied for several school positions — from cafeteria worker to custodian — including one for a substitute bus driver, despite having zero experience behind the wheel of a bus.—
Tereza Shkurtaj,
PEOPLE,
6 Sep. 2025
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The 30-year-old has gone from being fourth-choice goalkeeper at Wolves, making one substitute appearance in his two seasons at Molineux, to third-choice at Everton.—
Tim Spiers,
New York Times,
2 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
House Republicans are proposing another stopgap measure that will maintain funding levels, but Democrats want a regular appropriations plan.—
Brittney Melton,
NPR,
2 Sep. 2025
-
Over the last two offseasons under Stearns, the Mets mostly targeted short-term contracts with pitchers like Montas as stopgap options.—
Will Sammon,
New York Times,
15 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Make-do.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/make-do. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.
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