shoehorn

1 of 2

noun

shoe·​horn ˈshü-ˌhȯrn How to pronounce shoehorn (audio)
: 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 pagesOtis Port

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
Affordable fundamentals Recent years have seen student housing developers compete to shoehorn as many luxury amenities as possible into residential communities, from boxing gyms to makers spaces and luxury spas. Jeffrey Steele, Forbes, 31 Dec. 2024 Other useful features include an interior mesh pocket, which can be used for storing accessories (socks, heel pads, shoehorns, etc.) and a top handle for easy transportation. Amy Louise Bailey, Travel + Leisure, 13 Oct. 2023
Verb
These products are often deeply integrated—and sometimes shoehorned—into companies’ often sprawling technology architecture. Chris Perry, Forbes, 9 Jan. 2025 While lauding a new partnership among Florida universities and Kennedy Space Center, Gov. Ron DeSantis shoehorned in a pitch to have NASA headquarters leave the nation’s capital in favor of the Sunshine State. Richard Tribou, Orlando Sentinel, 9 Jan. 2025 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

Dictionary Entries Near shoehorn

Cite this Entry

“Shoehorn.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shoehorn. Accessed 29 Jan. 2025.

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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