EXTEMPORARY Synonyms: 41 Similar and Opposite Words

extemporary

adjective

ik-ˈstem-pə-ˌrer-ē

Definition of extemporary

as in impromptu

made or done without previous thought or preparation caught red-handed, the would-be embezzler proceeded to give some extemporary and not very convincing explanations for her actions

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Recent Examples of Synonyms for extemporary

Adjective

Yet her inclusion feels totally impromptu, like she and Bryan just got called up for their turn at karaoke and didn’t have a chance to work out the harmonies.

— Walden Green, Pitchfork, 16 Oct. 2026
Moroney, Bryan and 19-year-old singer-songwriter Ty Myers were teased as being part of the lineup in an impromptu drone show over Tower Bridge Wednesday night.

— Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of impromptu

Adjective

These findings suggest that the audience for conversations about the soul is not shrinking, but shifting away from organized religion and toward more personal, improvisational forms of seeking.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 5 Oct. 2026
Last month, at the Earl Scruggs Music Festival in Western North Carolina, MGU rolled through an hour-long set of new material from Appalachian Smoke and intricate improvisational jams.

— Garret K. Woodward, Rolling Stone, 4 Oct. 2026

Definition of improvisational

Adjective

Stiff was a record company that was founded on about 1,000 pounds and everything was done in an improvised fashion, including what order the songs came out from different artists.

— Chris Willman, Variety, 8 Oct. 2026
The piece contends that the threat warrants advance legal planning rather than reliance on improvised responses after a disruption occurs.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 27 Sep. 2026

Definition of improvised

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.

Browse Nearby Words

extemporaneous

extemporary

extempore

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“Extemporary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/extemporary. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of extemporary

adjective

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