extemporaneous

adjective

(ˌ)ek-ˌstem-pə-ˈrā-nē-əs How to pronounce extemporaneous (audio)
Definition of extemporaneousnext
as in impromptu
made or done without previous thought or preparation caught by surprise, I had to make an extemporaneous speech at the awards banquet

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 extemporaneous The extemporaneous talk included Biblical references and warm shoutouts to locals in the audience. — CBS News, 5 Feb. 2026 After his turn, English let out a sigh, exhausted by all the extemporaneous scribing. — Dan Greene, New Yorker, 26 Jan. 2026 Where the ponderous fire-roads invited a slow, deliberate pace to space our kidneys, the combination of hilly terrain and a slick surface demanded a more extemporaneous approach to conserving momentum. — Byron Hurd, The Drive, 22 Jan. 2026 In 1962, Tillie Olsen gave a largely extemporaneous talk at Harvard’s Radcliffe Institute. — Literary Hub, 15 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for extemporaneous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for extemporaneous
  1. impromptu
  2. improvisational
  3. improvised
Adjective
  • Harley walked into an impromptu interview to become the Huskies interim coach, and less than 48 hours later, NIU announced Hammock’s resignation and Harley’s promotion.
    — Colleen Kane, Chicago Tribune, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Segovia, a percussionist, has always filled his home with music – playing impromptu concerts for the neighborhood out of open garage doors or inviting friends and fellow musicians over to jam.
    — Marissa J. Lang, NPR, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of impromptu
Adjective
  • Fans of the popular comedy podcast were greeted with a generic British woman’s voice stating the episode number today instead of Watts’ improvisational beatboxing riff that served as the show’s intro since 2011.
    — Cheyenne Roundtree, Rolling Stone, 24 Aug. 2026
  • The interactivity and reliance on improvisational actors limits audience size to around seven people at a time, Lyons said.
    — David Bloom, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2026
Definition of improvisational
Adjective
  • That's enough to loosen steep slopes where some of the 210,000 islanders live off the grid in improvised housing.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 16 Aug. 2026
  • Forecasters warn that up to 25 inches of rain and powerful winds could trigger life-threatening flooding, mudslides and even wildfires, especially in remote communities where many residents live off the grid in improvised housing.
    — Jennifer Sinco Kelleher, Los Angeles Times, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of improvised

Browse Nearby Words

extant
extemporaneous
extemporary
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Cite this Entry

“Extemporaneous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/extemporaneous. Accessed 3 Sep. 2026.

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