shoehorn

1 of 2

noun

shoe·​horn ˈshü-ˌhȯrn How to pronounce shoehorn (audio)
Synonyms of shoehorn
: a curved piece (as of horn, wood, or metal) used in putting on a shoe

shoehorn

2 of 2

verb

shoehorned; shoehorning; shoehorns

transitive verb

1
: to force to be included or admitted
shoehorned irrelevant arguments into his essay
2
: to force or compress into an insufficient space or period of time : squeeze
… shoehorn the past, present, and future into about 500 pages …—Otis Port

Synonyms of shoehorn

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Verb

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Examples of shoehorn in a Sentence

Verb A parking garage has been shoehorned between the buildings. She's trying to shoehorn a year's worth of classes into a single semester. I don't know how they managed to shoehorn everyone into that little room.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Noun
Get dressed easier and reduce the need to bend with the help of this adjustable shoehorn, which doubles as a dressing stick and sock remover. — Nora Colomer May Earn A Commission If You Buy Through Our Referral Links. This Content Was Created By A Team That Works Independently From The Fox Newsroom., FOXNews.com, 24 Sep. 2025 The low seating position makes entry and exit a shoehorn proposition. — Josh Max, Forbes.com, 18 May 2026
Verb
Instead, the action constantly stops cold to shoehorn in one of Morissette’s hits. — Charles Lewis Iii, Mercury News, 12 June 2026 Do me a favor, call up that agent that was foolish enough to shoehorn you into this business and this show and tell him to lower the ticket prices. — Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 7 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for shoehorn

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1589, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1859, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of shoehorn was in 1589

Rhymes for shoehorn

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Browse Nearby Words

shoegaze
shoehorn
shoeing-horn
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Shoehorn.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shoehorn. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

shoehorn

noun
shoe·​horn
-ˌhȯrn
: a curved piece (as of metal) to help in putting on a shoe
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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