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
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 Stephanie doesn’t use her wealth like a shoehorn, trying to fit herself into a situation like Sutton Stracke does. Brian Moylan, Vulture, 7 Aug. 2025
Verb
With a roster that includes Margot Robbie, Miles Teller and Brooke Shields, Ullman says tariff anxiety shoehorned into an already volatile market and tense political climate has pushed clients to be far more conservative. Trey Williams, HollywoodReporter, 22 Oct. 2025 Sending in the dog was about the only thing that could shoehorn me out of my chair. Literary Hub, 17 Oct. 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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

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