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

Synonyms & Similar Words
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
The experience of working with elite football clubs exposed Bord to inefficiencies, and the absence of sophisticated algorithms that his company designs. —Jordan Campbell, New York Times, 31 May 2025 Tucked away in the resort’s newest and most secluded area, Butler Villas feature design that nods to the natural beauty of Saint Lucia. —AFAR Media, 30 May 2025
Verb
Accommodations range from double-occupancy Mountain King and Bunk Rooms to connecting suites designed for families and groups, each with modern features such as workspaces, mini fridges, and wool camp blankets. —Regan Stephens, Travel + Leisure, 30 May 2025 When garments and textiles are designed on two separate timelines, Konings said there’s no connection point between the textile engineer and the fashion designer. —Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 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
  • This was a little bit always the plan with Max, which is two sides of the same coin as Marcus [Felix Mallard].
    — Samantha Highfill, EW.com, 5 June 2025
  • Under the law, defendants who present a mental health diagnosis usually have their charges dismissed and records cleared after completing a treatment plan.
    — Ethan Wolin, Sacbee.com, 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
  • 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
  • These rituals included a physical action, an emotional expression and a shared sense of purpose.
    — Vibhas Ratanjee, Forbes.com, 2 June 2025
Definition of purpose
Noun
  • Breton stripes, fisherman sandals, shell motifs—anything that could remind you of the ocean is very much in play, and plenty of it is currently on sale at Nordstrom.
    — Jake Henry Smith, Glamour, 30 May 2025
  • Johnson makes paintings and mosaics on square white tiles—often incorporating the material of one of Johnson’s favorite motifs, shea butter, the hearty soul food of moisturizing agents.
    — Vinson Cunningham, New Yorker, 30 May 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
  • The latter offers a layout featuring a prominent round tachometer in the center of the cluster flanked by customizable displays for the engine’s effort, suspension settings and other monitoring.
    — James Raia, Mercury News, 2 June 2025
Definition of layout
Verb
  • The period is intended to prevent market manipulation and to ensure potential investors receive relevant information from the company’s prospectus.
    — Ron Hurtibise, Sun Sentinel, 4 June 2025
  • The resulting images and video are intended to be used as reference files for the real thing, so that astronauts and imaging technicians can better understand what camera settings to use, and how large the resulting image or video files might be when transmitted.
    — Keith Cooper, Space.com, 4 June 2025
Definition of intend
Verb
  • So each block has a director, and one block prepares and starts to shoot, then halfway [through] the other is prepping, and then starts to shoot.
    — Mark Olsen, Los Angeles Times, 29 May 2025
  • Her 17-year-old is preparing for graduation while working as a lifeguard.
    — Adrianna Rodriguez, USA Today, 29 May 2025
Definition of prepare
Noun
  • 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
  • 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
Definition of strategy

Browse Nearby Words

desideratum
design
designate
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Design.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/design. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.

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