SHOESTRING Synonyms: 88 Similar and Opposite Words

shoestring 1 of 2

noun

ˈshü-ˌstriŋ

Definition of shoestring

as in dime

a very small sum of money trying to start a business on a shoestring

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

shoestring

2 of 2

adjective

as in spindly

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

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 shoestring

Noun

Murderous, a dark comedy thriller that evokes early Hitchcock, was shot over two one-week blocks on a shoestring budget at a single location in the Hudson Valley. — Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 17 Sep. 2026 Promises of investment at face value are encouraging but United have historically run their women’s team on a shoestring budget and yet managed to overperform. — Charlotte Harpur, New York Times, 3 Sep. 2026

Adjective

First-time customer Regan Hau ate the chili alongside a basket of shoestring french fries, an item Waite said Town Topic didn’t offer until the ‘80s. — Kansas City Star, 22 Aug. 2025 Shot on a shoestring $2 million budget from private financing by Altavista Films — a rarity in late-’90s Mexico where most movies were still state-subsidized — Amores Perros was edited by Iñárritu himself, in his home, over several grueling months. — Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 21 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for shoestring

Recent Examples of Synonyms for shoestring

Noun

And there are only two TDs to WRs given up by Carolina in their dime defensive package.

— Bill Reinhard, New York Daily News, 22 Oct. 2026
The Jets also have South Florida products Jarvis Brownlee and D’Angelo Ponds rotate in on nickel and dime packages.

— David Furones, Sun Sentinel, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of dime

Adjective

The front door opens to a wall of giant spindly cacti masking large south-facing windows.

— Wendy Goodman, Curbed, 19 Sep. 2026
Slowly, the Royal Prince of Hungary, Bohemia, and Croatia gets to his feet and places his spindly arms around the barman, who is old enough to be his father.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 4 Sep. 2026

Definition of spindly

Adjective

Members arrived dressed in a version of church clothes — men in crisp button-downs and stringy black ties, women in long swishy cotton skirts.

— Claire Hoffman, Rolling Stone, 21 Sep. 2026
After blasting apart the woman and an infected farmer, their bodies fuse together with stringy tendrils from inside each of them.

— Jordan Moreau, Variety, 19 Sep. 2026

Definition of stringy

Adjective

Meanwhile, her eyes were as embellished as ever, dressed in a rose shimmer and lined with a natural baby wing and wispy lash extensions.

— Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 19 Oct. 2026
Drums burst over pirouetting synth chords, while Stel’s wispy harmonies evoke the feeling of coming up on ecstasy.

— Jeff Ihaza, Rolling Stone, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of wispy

Adjective

Asked about McDaniels after practice on Monday, before this deal was done, Ball raved about his lanky teammate's capability and compared him to a video game creation.

— ABC News, ABC News, 20 Oct. 2026
Still, Ginger warms to him, confiding that she’s been followed around the ceremony by two men — a lanky guy with a neck tattoo and a brawnier guy with a penchant for Werther’s Originals.

— Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of lanky

Adjective

However, the primary reason for these willowy airfoils is entirely practical.

— David Szondy August 04, New Atlas, 4 Aug. 2026
Cosmos Cosmos help create an ethereal-looking garden, thanks to their long, willowy stems and bright, fluffy blooms that come in dozens of vibrant colors, from rich chocolate cosmos to delicate ‘Apricotta’ tones.

— Melissa Epifano, The Spruce, 8 July 2026

Definition of willowy

Adjective

As Jay waddles into the water, the waves seem to want to shove the reedy young man back to shore.

— Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026
The nerdiness of her team’s approach, and the general scrappiness of the entire department under the leadership of the reedy Noda, gives the movie a sweet but sad spirit of resilience in the face of terrible odds.

— Alison Willmore, Vulture, 30 Sep. 2026

Definition of reedy

Browse Nearby Words

shoes

shoestring

shone

See all Nearby Words

Podcast

Cite this Entry

Style

“Shoestring.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shoestring. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of shoestring

noun

adjective

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Podcast

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

grotesque

Popular in Grammar & Usage

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Why do we 'bury the lede?'

'Za' and 9 Other Words to Help You Win at SCRABBLE

Popular

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes