stopgap 1 of 2

as in substitute
a temporary replacement the coach we have now was only hired as a stopgap until someone with more experience is found

Synonyms & Similar Words

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stopgap

2 of 2

adjective

Synonym Chooser

How is the word stopgap different from other nouns like it?

Some common synonyms of stopgap are expedient, makeshift, resort, resource, and shift. While all these words mean "something one turns to in the absence of the usual means or source of supply," stopgap applies to something used temporarily as an emergency measure.

a new law intended only as a stopgap

When can expedient be used instead of stopgap?

The synonyms expedient and stopgap are sometimes interchangeable, but expedient may apply to any device or contrivance used when the usual one is not at hand or not possible.

a flimsy expedient

In what contexts can makeshift take the place of stopgap?

While the synonyms makeshift and stopgap are close in meaning, makeshift implies an inferior expedient adopted because of urgent need or allowed through indifference.

old equipment employed as a makeshift

How are the words resource and resort related as synonyms of stopgap?

Both resource and resort apply to anything one falls back upon.

exhausted all of their resources
a last resort

When might shift be a better fit than stopgap?

The words shift and stopgap can be used in similar contexts, but shift implies a tentative or temporary imperfect expedient.

desperate shifts to stave off foreclosure

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 stopgap
Noun
United have also looked to make loan signings due to their precarious financial picture, or a need for stopgap additions. The Athletic Uk Staff, The Athletic, 13 Feb. 2025 Marvin Joseph | The Washington Post | Getty Images Congress passed a stopgap spending bill over the weekend, and President Joe Biden signed it on Saturday, averting a government shutdown after a chaotic, high-stakes week in Washington, D.C. Michele Luhn, CNBC, 23 Dec. 2024 Federal employees Federal workers can breathe a sigh of relief with the passage of the recent stopgap, taking the threat of mass furloughs off the table for a few months. Mychael Schnell, The Hill, 21 Dec. 2024 Instead, the Giants should sign a stopgap veteran at right guard. Dan Duggan, The Athletic, 18 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for stopgap
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stopgap
Noun
  • But animals often make poor substitutes for humans.
    Celia Ford, Vox, 3 Mar. 2025
  • Think of it as a high-tech sprinkler system: excellent at putting out small fires instantly, but not a substitute for eliminating flammable materials in the first place.
    Michael Roytman, Forbes, 3 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • Marko, however, is confident that Verstappen will prove to be an effective backup in case of issues with the car.
    Tommy Tuberville, Newsweek, 7 Mar. 2025
  • Garoppolo and Dobbs both get the Mike White offer (two-year, $8 million, with $4 million guaranteed), and whoever accepts it first becomes Tagovailoa’s backup.
    Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 7 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • 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, 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

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Cite this Entry

“Stopgap.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stopgap. Accessed 15 Mar. 2025.

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