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
And in another first for Netflix, the design of the thronglet characters from the game actually inspired the creatures in the episode itself. —Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 10 Apr. 2025 Engineering teams can leverage modular design, breaking down projects into smaller, more efficient components. —Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 9 Apr. 2025
Verb
This adjustable nozzle will make gardening all the simpler thanks to its comfortable grip that’s designed to minimize stress on both your hands and wrists. —Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 Apr. 2025 This year, the H20 chip has become increasingly coveted by artificial intelligence companies, because it is designed to support inference, a computational process used to support AI models like China's DeepSeek and other AI agents being developed by Meta and OpenAI. —Bobby Allyn, NPR, 9 Apr. 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. strategy
  8. conspiracy
Noun
  • Trump has upended the global trading system that has been in place for over 75 years with a plan for tariffs on products from across the world.
    — Chris Prentice, USA Today, 19 Apr. 2025
  • The budget plan also would cut significant funding for the District of Columbia government, including its school system.
    — David Lightman, Sacbee.com, 18 Apr. 2025
Definition of plan
Noun
  • Nearly 30 years ago California legislators faced a test of their integrity in voting for an electricity deregulation scheme that ratepayers are still paying for.
    — Jamie Court, Mercury News, 19 Apr. 2025
  • And perhaps the most frustrating and ironic aspect about these potential cuts is that in the scheme of the U.S. government’s overall budget, Mars gets much more of the planetary science budget than Venus.
    — Bruce Dorminey, Forbes.com, 18 Apr. 2025
Definition of scheme
Noun
  • The name’s ironic on purpose—the app allows users to create, send, and receive anonymous voice messages in a celebrity’s tone.
    — Alexandra York, Forbes.com, 15 Apr. 2025
  • Each edge of this triangle-esque tool serves a unique purpose: a smooth, long side for sweeping over wider areas like calves, arms, and thighs; a precision tip for targeted acupressure; and a ridged edge for digging into tense tissue.
    — Allure, Allure, 14 Apr. 2025
Definition of purpose
Noun
  • Their rebellious sweaters featuring Moldovan folk motifs paired with baggy cargos offer a fresh take on heritage-meets-hype.
    — Cassell Ferere, Forbes.com, 8 Apr. 2025
  • Some of the key graphics include diamond motifs, horizontal stripes, four-directional crosses placed within each diamond and zig-zag patterns reminiscent of the desert mountain landscapes.
    — Luisa Zargani, Footwear News, 8 Apr. 2025
Definition of motif
Noun
  • To solve the bedroom’s issues, Galey planned to drywall over the extra door, add thick, arched double wood doors with a lock for privacy and reimagine the layout to make the space feel cozier and more secure.
    — Jordan Greene, People.com, 16 Apr. 2025
  • All of the accommodations have unique layouts, but the common thread is the incredible amount of woodwork.
    — Christina Liao, Vogue, 15 Apr. 2025
Definition of layout
Verb
  • What To Know Zelensky Issues World War 3 Warning to Donald Trump A senior British government source also told The Times newspaper of London in March that the West intends to deploy more than 10,000 troops in Ukraine to monitor a possible ceasefire between Moscow and Kyiv.
    — Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Apr. 2025
  • The resolution states that the city intends to enter into an agreement that complies with Florida law while remaining within the limits of the city’s budget.
    — Verónica Egui Brito, Miami Herald, 17 Apr. 2025
Definition of intend
Noun
  • However, Keena said that strategy may not be as effective this time around.
    — Savannah Kuchar, USA Today, 21 Apr. 2025
  • Outpacing services and community expectations while chasing tax dollars is not a long-term winning strategy.
    — Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 20 Apr. 2025
Definition of strategy
Noun
  • The four were convicted on two counts each of kidnapping and robbery and one count each of conspiracy to kidnap for ransom.
    — Taryn Luna, Los Angeles Times, 19 Apr. 2025
  • He also is found guilty of first-degree arson and conspiracy to commit arson.
    — Todd Pendleton, USA Today, 19 Apr. 2025
Definition of conspiracy

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 24 Apr. 2025.

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