Definitions

on-the-spot

[on-thuh-spot, awn-] / ˈɒn ðəˌspɒt, ˈɔn- /

ADJECTIVE

behind the eight ball

Synonyms

WEAK

in Dutch in a pickle in a tight spot in hot water on the hot seat out on a limb up the creek

ADJECTIVE

defenseless

Synonyms

STRONGEST

helpless unarmed unprotected

WEAK

caught endangered exposed hands tied in line of fire indefensible like a clay pigeon like a sitting duck naked on the line open out on limb pigeon poor unguarded up the creek weak wide open

Antonyms

WEAK

powerful strong

ADJECTIVE

exposed

Synonyms

STRONGEST

bare defined disclosed discovered naked resolved solved uncovered unprotected

STRONG

bared caught clear debunked denuded divulged exhibited manifest open peeled revealed shown stripped unmasked unsealed unveiled

WEAK

apparent brought to light dug up evident for show found out laid bare made manifest on display on view unconcealed unhidden unsheltered visible

Antonyms

STRONGEST

clothed hidden

STRONG

ambiguous blocked closed concealed obscure unclear vague

WEAK

guarded private protected safe secret sheltered shielded

ADJECTIVE

extemporaneous

Synonyms

WEAK

ad hoc ad-lib automatic autoschediastic by ear casual expedient extemporary extempore fake free immediate impromptu improv improvisatory improviso informal jamming made-up makeshift offhand on impulse snap spontaneous spur-of-the-moment toss off toss out unplanned unpremeditated unprepared unrehearsed unstudied winging it

Antonyms

WEAK

deliberate planned premeditated prepared rehearsed

ADJECTIVE

extemporaneous/extemporary

Synonyms

WEAK

ad hoc ad lib at first glance automatic by ear casual expedient extempore free immediate impromptu improv improvisatory improviso informal jamming made-up makeshift off the cuff off the top of head offhand on impulse snap spontaneous spur-of-the-moment taking for ride thought out loud tossed off tossed out unplanned unpremeditated unprepared unstudied winging it

Antonyms

WEAK

planned prepared read rehearsed written

ADJECTIVE

instant

Synonyms

STRONG

burning contemporary crying current fast imperative present pressing prompt quick

WEAK

clamant dire direct exigent existent extant importunate insistent instantaneous present-day split-second

Antonyms

STRONG

future old old-fashioned past slow tardy unimportant

WEAK

delayed eventual late later

ADJECTIVE

off-the-cuff

Synonyms

WEAK

ad hoc ad-lib automatic autoschediastic by ear casual expedient extemporary extempore fake free immediate impromptu improv improvisatory improvised improviso informal jamming made-up makeshift offhand on impulse snap spontaneous spur-of-the-moment toss off toss out unplanned unpremeditated unprepared unrehearsed unstudied winging it

ADJECTIVE

on call

Synonyms

WEAK

accessible at hand at one's beck and call at one's disposal at one's fingertip available handy night call on alert on deck prepared standing by within reach

ADJECTIVE

pregnable

Synonyms

WEAK

accessible assailable attackable defenseless exposed liable naked on the line out on a limb ready sensitive sitting duck sucker susceptible tender thin-skinned unguarded unprotected unsafe vincible weak wide open

ADJECTIVE

present

Synonyms

STRONG

attendant near ready there

WEAK

accounted for at hand available existent in attendance in view made the scene on board on deck on hand show up there with bells on within reach

Antonyms

WEAK

absent away distant far

ADJECTIVE

risky

Synonyms

STRONGEST

delicate dicey hazardous perilous precarious sensitive speculative treacherous tricky uncertain unhealthy unsafe unsound

WEAK

chancy endangered fraught with danger going for broke hairy hanging by a thread iffy insecure jeopardous long shot not a prayer off the deep end on slippery ground on thin ice out on a limb playing with fire rocky ticklish touch-and-go touchy venturesome wicked wide-open

Antonyms

STRONGEST

certain definite harmless healthy honest insensitive protected safe secure stable strong sure well

WEAK

assured

ADJECTIVE

snappy

Synonyms

WEAK

abrupt breakneck expeditious fleet harefooted hasty immediate instant quick rapid speedy sudden swift unpremeditated

Antonyms

WEAK

delayed slow sluggish

ADJECTIVE

split second

Synonyms

STRONG

fast instant quick quick-fire rapid speedy

ADJECTIVE

spur-of-the-moment

Synonyms

WEAK

ad hoc ad-lib automatic autoschediastic by ear casual expedient extemporary extempore fake free immediate impromptu improv improvisatory improvised improviso informal jamming made-up makeshift offhand on impulse snap spontaneous toss off toss out unplanned unpremeditated unprepared unrehearsed unstudied winging it

ADJECTIVE

vincible

Synonyms

WEAK

accessible assailable attackable defenseless exposed liable naked on the line out on a limb pregnable ready sensitive sitting duck sucker susceptible tender thin-skinned unguarded unprotected unsafe weak wide open

ADJECTIVE

vulnerable

Synonyms

STRONGEST

accessible defenseless exposed liable ready sensitive susceptible unsafe weak

WEAK

assailable naked on the line out on a limb sitting duck sucker tender thin-skinned unguarded unprotected wide open

Antonyms

STRONGEST

guarded protected safe secure strong unsusceptible

WEAK

closed

ADVERB

here

Synonyms

STRONG

attendant attending hither present

WEAK

available hereabouts hitherto in this direction on board on deck on hand on the spot within reach

Antonyms

WEAK

there

ADVERB

immediately

Synonyms

STRONGEST

directly forthwith instantly promptly rapidly shortly soon urgently

STRONG

now

WEAK

PDQ anon at short notice away double-time hereupon in a New York minute in a flash in a jiffy in nothing flat instantaneously instanter like now now or never on the dot on the double on the spot pronto right now soon afterward straight away straight off summarily thereupon this instant this minute tout de suite unhesitatingly without delay without hesitation

Antonyms

STRONGEST

later

WEAK

eventually never

ADVERB

out on a limb

Synonyms

WEAK

chancy dangerous exposed liable on the spot open perilous precarious risky shaky up a tree

ADVERB

summarily

Synonyms

STRONGEST

arbitrarily forthwith promptly swiftly

WEAK

at short notice expeditiously immediately on the spot peremptorily readily speedily without waste

Antonyms

WEAK

slowly

NOUN

jeopardy

Synonyms

STRONGEST

peril

STRONG

accident chance endangerment exposure hazard insecurity liability precariousness risk venture vulnerability

WEAK

double trouble on the line on the spot out on a limb

Antonyms

STRONG

assurance certainty safety surety

WEAK

protection

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Random Lengths’ Framing Lumber Composite Price, the trade publication’s gauge of on-the-spot prices, is up more than 30% from the December lows.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 26, 2026

Liu practiced in the dress and McKinnon was able to make on-the-spot adjustments.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 18, 2026

Those caught doing so will get a £200 on-the-spot fine in the first instance, rising to an unlimited fine and/or a prison sentence of up to two years for repeat offences.

From BBC • Apr. 23, 2025

They could search for injured and trapped people in an earthquake or a collapsed building, for example, and apply on-the-spot care, such as administering CPR.

From Science Daily • May 3, 2024

Rather, he was something of a poet, an inventor of on-the-spot ballads called corridos, and at one time he had been able to read and write in both English and Spanish.

From "The Milagro Beanfield War" by John Nichols

on-the-spot

Example Sentences

Related Words