design 1 of 2

noun

Definition of designnext
1
as in plan
a method worked out in advance for achieving some objective she always achieves her objective by design rather than by luck

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in scheme
a secret plan for accomplishing evil or unlawful ends the thief had devised an elaborate design to get the invaluable artwork

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3
as in purpose
something that one hopes or intends to accomplish my design in writing to you is to ask for your support

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in motif
a unit of decoration that is repeated all over something (as a fabric) the curtains have a lovely floral design

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5
as in layout
the way in which the elements of something (as a work of art) are arranged the design of the building's lobby encourages the free flow of traffic

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design

2 of 2

verb

di-ˈzīn How to pronounce design (audio)
1
as in to plan
to have in mind as a purpose or goal early on she had designed to a top position in a major insurance company

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2
as in to prepare
to work out the details of (something) in advance the foreman designed a better layout for the factory floor to improve efficiency

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun design contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of design are plan, plot, project, and scheme. While all these words mean "a method devised for making or doing something or achieving an end," design often suggests a particular pattern and some degree of achieved order or harmony.

a design for a new dress

When can plan be used instead of design?

The words plan and design are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, plan always implies mental formulation and sometimes graphic representation.

plans for a house

When would plot be a good substitute for design?

The synonyms plot and design are sometimes interchangeable, but plot implies a laying out in clearly distinguished sections with attention to their relations and proportions.

the plot of the play

When is project a more appropriate choice than design?

The words project and design can be used in similar contexts, but project often stresses imaginative scope and vision.

a project to develop the waterfront

Where would scheme be a reasonable alternative to design?

Although the words scheme and design have much in common, scheme stresses calculation of the end in view and may apply to a plan motivated by craftiness and self-interest.

a scheme to defraud the government

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 design
Noun
Newsweek contacted the Public Investment Fund and Foster & Partners via email for more information on the skyscraper's design. —Theo Burman, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 June 2025 There’s a great need for human expertise in system design and engineering, operational oversight and validation of results. —Claire Trimble, Forbes.com, 12 June 2025
Verb
Smith also said bat manufacturers are now designing bats in ways that mitigate the effects of rolling. —Ralph D. Russo, New York Times, 30 May 2025 The matching funds program is designed to put more weight on local campaign contributions by giving an 8-to-1 match for donations of up to $250 from city residents. —Josephine Stratman, New York Daily News, 30 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for design
Recent Examples of Synonyms for design
  1. plan
  2. scheme
  3. purpose
  4. motif
  5. layout
  6. intend
  7. prepare
  8. strategy
Noun
  • Republican leaders say these criticisms are wrong and that the GOP plan will boost the economy and cut spending.
    — Brittney Melton, NPR, 5 June 2025
  • The announcement of Glastonbury’s final lineup also coincides with the BBC’s plans to air artists’ sets, with the broadcaster telling British publication The i Paper that Kneecap’s performance will be included as part of their coverage.
    — Tyler Jenke, Billboard, 5 June 2025
Definition of plan
Noun
  • At the end of February, a pedestrian was hit in West London by an ebike rider in West London — not a rental or sharing scheme, to be clear — and died after a month in hospital.
    — Nicole Kobie, Forbes.com, 6 June 2025
  • Though details of how the gambling operation functioned have not been released, HSI Tampa said in its post the scheme generated more than $21.6 million in illicit proceeds.
    — Cristóbal Reyes, The Orlando Sentinel, 5 June 2025
Definition of scheme
Noun
  • These rituals included a physical action, an emotional expression and a shared sense of purpose.
    — Vibhas Ratanjee, Forbes.com, 2 June 2025
  • This was still wild country, and Fuller set off with the express purpose of producing a book about her journey.
    — James Marcus, New Yorker, 2 June 2025
Definition of purpose
Noun
  • Mission accomplished: The Nature Sauvage high-jewelry collection reveals a progression of the French brand’s iconic motifs and designs in colorful, playful styles.
    — Jill Newman, Robb Report, 12 June 2025
  • The design seems to be based on the recent Himalayan 450, albeit with more flowing lines across the seat and faux fuel tank, a ridged motif across the top of the fuel tank and battery cover, and sculpted mainframe and subframe bits.
    — Abhimanyu Ghoshal, New Atlas, 11 June 2025
Definition of motif
Noun
  • On the top floor, there is a two-bedroom penthouse available with a 550 sq ft. wraparound terrace, as well as three-bedroom option with an even larger terrace, ensuite bathrooms, and an open layout with a dining area, and a lounge area with a daybed and sectional sofa.
    — Lisa Cericola, Southern Living, 3 June 2025
  • Despite being spread across different categories and brand names, the sites often use the same layouts, AI agents and payment structures, all pointing to a centralized fraud network.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 2 June 2025
Definition of layout
Verb
  • Going forward, the owners intend to integrate Vinyl Me, Please with its VinylBox and VNYL brands as a sister operation specializing in premium audio.
    — Jazz Monroe, Pitchfork, 4 June 2025
  • The move was intended to boost subscriptions to then-fledgling HBO Max.
    — Peter Kiefer, HollywoodReporter, 4 June 2025
Definition of intend
Verb
  • On the other hand, some small-business owners may only have an annual relationship with their accountant or tax professional, or even opt to prepare their taxes themselves.
    — Vlad Rusz, Forbes.com, 10 June 2025
  • Weyman didn’t have long to prepare for the massive character milestone, but emphasized the importance of dialect to his portrayal of the Grey Wanderer.
    — Lauren Coates, Variety, 9 June 2025
Definition of prepare
Noun
  • But, at this point, Edelman believes that advisers who value diversification as a strategy in their clients’ portfolio — eg, across asset classes, sectors, etc. — would be remiss not to recommend adding at least a small amount of digital asset exposure.
    — Jeanne Sahadi, CNN Money, 7 June 2025
  • These changes were more than just rebrands: each new name came along with a fundamentally different business strategy.
    — Dev Patnaik, Forbes.com, 7 June 2025
Definition of strategy

Browse Nearby Words

desideratum
design
designate
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Cite this Entry

“Design.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/design. Accessed 15 Jun. 2025.

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