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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of ad-lib
Sabrina Park, Harper's BAZAAR, 15 Mar. 2023
Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 6 Mar. 2025
While much of the show was scripted, Lowe was also allowed to ad-lib, which further helped solidify the show’s off-kilter, edgy sense of humor.
—Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 4 Mar. 2025
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
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
The camera then cut to Tiger Woods — co-founder of the new three-on-three golf league — who broke out into a wide smile, laughing and shaking his head at the ad-lib.
—Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 6 Mar. 2025
While much of the show was scripted, Lowe was also allowed to ad-lib, which further helped solidify the show’s off-kilter, edgy sense of humor.
—Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 4 Mar. 2025
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ad-lib
Adjective
-
The rest of the team ends up having an impromptu guys’ night with McGee and Torres teaming up to mow down cute but lethal teddy bears in Killing with Kindness 3 on the big screen in Kasie’s lab.—
Sara Netzley,
EW.com,
1 Apr. 2025
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Her most unfiltered thoughts, however, come through in impromptu Instagram Stories shared to her 1.5 million followers.—
Catherine Santino,
People.com,
31 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Wun’s versatility and willingness to explore beyond his comfort zone not only enhance his technical skills but also reflect a maturity in improvisation that belies his age.—
Heide Janssen,
Orange County Register,
16 Mar. 2025
-
Additionally, the craft of improvisation plays a major role in both, reinforcing their stylistic and cultural connections—an undeniable bond that has not only linked them for decades but solidified their place as two of the most revolutionary forces in modern music.—
Okla Jones,
Essence,
10 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Faced with a crowded dining room and dwindling supplies, Cardini improvised.—
Scott Hutcheson,
Forbes.com,
3 Apr. 2025
-
The Israeli campaign has killed more than 50,000 Palestinians, according to Palestinian health officials, and ravaged the Gaza Strip forcing almost the entire population of 2.3 million from their homes, leaving hundreds of thousands in tents and improvised shelters.—
James Mackenzie,
USA Today,
2 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Despite the entrenched ethical norms of the legal profession, educational institutions at every level should devise strategies designed to improve the public’s understanding of government and its critical intersection with the rule of law.—
Blake D. Morant,
Forbes.com,
3 Apr. 2025
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Vince McMahon has devised various gimmicks and names for wrestlers while running WWE over the last several decades.—
Josh Hammer,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Some are concocting nostalgic scrapbooks and others are knitting cozy blankets or adorable sweaters.—
Lauren Thomann,
Better Homes & Gardens,
17 Mar. 2025
-
At that point, the writers gathered to familiarize themselves (for the first time) with the original show and began concocting various excuses for having big-name stars floating in and out of the Bradys’ new life in Malibu.—
Elaina Patton,
IndieWire,
12 Mar. 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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There’s no faking things with the man from north New Jersey.—
Joshua Kloke,
New York Times,
8 Apr. 2025
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The stress of pretending to be a big film director, and having to fake knowledge of Sritala’s filmography with zero briefing from Rick, sends Frank leaping off the wagon so quickly, the wagon may as well have been drenched in whiskey and set on fire.—
Alan Sepinwall,
Rolling Stone,
30 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ad-lib.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ad-lib. Accessed 13 Apr. 2025.
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