as in dime
a very small sum of money
trying to start a business on a shoestring
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in spindly
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of shoestring
Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 7 Feb. 2025
This one easily fits in a shoestring budget and boasts some great mid-century looks, a nice combination for outfitting your home without breaking the bank.
—Will Porter, Architectural Digest, 5 Feb. 2025
Jennifer Epstein, Bloomberg.com, 7 May 2020
In Greater Cincinnati, a mighty, mostly volunteer needle-exchange effort on a shoestring budget started in 2014.
—Terry Demio, USA TODAY, 15 Dec. 2019
See All Example Sentences for shoestring
Noun
It was filmed in Los Angeles at several dozen locations in less than month on a shoestring budget.
—Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 7 Feb. 2025
This one easily fits in a shoestring budget and boasts some great mid-century looks, a nice combination for outfitting your home without breaking the bank.
—Will Porter, Architectural Digest, 5 Feb. 2025
Adjective
In 2016, the Trump campaign relied on stadium rallies, TV appearances and social media to compensate for its shoestring budget and thin staffing.
—Jennifer Epstein, Bloomberg.com, 7 May 2020
In Greater Cincinnati, a mighty, mostly volunteer needle-exchange effort on a shoestring budget started in 2014.
—Terry Demio, USA TODAY, 15 Dec. 2019
See All Example Sentences for shoestring
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shoestring
Noun
-
But there’s something about doing it at a time where our politics are so fraught and the wellbeing of our planet, our country, and our neighborhoods literally can change on a dime now.—
Antonia Blyth,
Deadline,
10 Apr. 2025
-
His explosion and ability to cut on a dime is terrific.—
Nick Baumgardner,
New York Times,
8 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Tomatoes stressed by lack of sunlight have spindly, weak stems and minimal fruit.—
Megan Hughes,
Better Homes & Gardens,
5 Apr. 2025
-
Grand Tours cater to spindly, ultralight cyclists who can ascend 3,000-foot mountain passes for days on end.—
Frederick Dreier,
Outside Online,
2 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
After all, full and healthy hair ends (at any length) look far better than long, stringy, split strands.—
Kiana Murden,
Vogue,
25 Mar. 2025
-
White-rot fungi release aggressive enzymes that bust apart lignin to get at the other bits, leaving behind white, stringy wood that’s mostly cellulose.—
Katarina Zimmer,
Smithsonian Magazine,
28 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
Cops recovered video of the lanky, mustachioed suspect following one of the attacks.—
Thomas Tracy,
New York Daily News,
4 Apr. 2025
-
The physical comedy is top-tier — especially when Cumming leans into his lanky goofiness and Hodgson exaggerates Montagu's buffoonish nature.—
Shania Russell,
EW.com,
21 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
Just who was this willowy blond from Iowa City, Iowa?—
Gia Kourlas,
New York Times,
25 Feb. 2025
-
Only two bodies remain still: Ferran’s, in one corner of the platform, and that of a young man (Jabez Sykes) diagonally across from her, tall and willowy and pale — two statues that seem moonlit while the rest of the world writhes and sweats around them.—
Sara Holdren,
Vulture,
11 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
In 2016, after a reedy Canadian professor named Jordan Peterson refused to use gender-neutral pronouns, he was taken up as a folk hero, like Galileo standing firm against the Inquisition.—
Andrew Marantz,
The New Yorker,
17 Mar. 2025
-
The reedy, tree-like grass is a panda’s primary food source, especially the shoots.—
Monica Cull,
Discover Magazine,
27 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
Traction alopecia Anything that involves repeatedly pulling your hair into a tight style should be avoided.—
Shannon Lawlor,
Glamour,
14 Apr. 2025
-
There’s no tighter part of the property for patrons than Amen Corner, tens of thousands pressed together to watch as McIlroy’s ball flew through the air once, then twice.—
Gabby Herzig,
New York Times,
14 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Elsewhere on defense, Porter is a rangy and athletic zone corner with strong ball skills.—
John W. Dean,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 Apr. 2025
-
Meanwhile, Granada’s rangy infield gave Pittsburg fits.—
Nathan Canilao,
Mercury News,
1 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Shoestring.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shoestring. Accessed 21 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share