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

Relevance
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

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Synonyms & Similar Words
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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
Unveiled at Palazzo Balbi in Venice on Tuesday, the medals boast a sleek aesthetic reflecting the country’s legacy in avant-garde design. —Martino Carrera, Footwear News, 15 July 2025 There's a lust for life that flirts with hedonism permeating everything at Justine's, from the music to the design to the cocktails and, of course, the French cuisine. —Matthew Odam, Austin American Statesman, 15 July 2025
Verb
The sports yacht is designed for open-air living, with an expansive indoor-outdoor layout. —Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 15 July 2025 Schwab probes notions of female rage, hunger, and love, using the notion of immortality to interrogate the sacrifices women must make in a world designed for their oppression. —Maureen Lee Lenker Published, EW.com, 15 July 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
  • Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department Chief Chris Bailey announced an effort to create his department's new strategic plan in April.
    — Jade Jackson, IndyStar, 24 July 2025
  • The 21-year-old plans on taking an extra gap year before medical school in an effort to save money.
    — Kate Armanini, Chicago Tribune, 23 July 2025
Definition of plan
Noun
  • The scheme requires drivers to pay a fee—based on the time and duration of their visit and their vehicle type—to enter the lower part of Manhattan, from the southern end of Central Park to the city’s financial district.
    — Carlton Reid, Forbes.com, 24 July 2025
  • Singer took in more than $25 million from his clients as part of the scheme, paid bribes totaling more than $7 million and used more than $15 million for his own benefit, according to prosecutors.
    — Eric Levenson, CNN Money, 24 July 2025
Definition of scheme
Noun
  • Legally, the Department of Defense can make military bases available to any federal, state or local law enforcement officials for law enforcement purposes, according to the National Immigration Law Center.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 20 July 2025
  • As Wolf says, cannabis hospitality’s future belongs to those who serve purpose, not novelty — building a new kind of travel rooted in mindfulness, connection and place.
    — Javier Hasse, Forbes.com, 20 July 2025
Definition of purpose
Noun
  • The lounge area gets a stylish refresh, with the House’s iconic Web and Interlocking G motifs splashed in a breezy, seasonal palette.
    — Erica Wertheim Zohar, Forbes.com, 16 July 2025
  • Related: The Newest Hotel in Osaka, Japan, Is in One of the City's Most Impressive Buildings, With an On-site Onsen and an 11-acre Park Next Door There are subtle peacock-tail motifs throughout the hotel, from the kumiko woodwork headboards to the washi paper in the elevator.
    — Amber Gibson, Travel + Leisure, 15 July 2025
Definition of motif
Noun
  • Even though many European cities employ map layouts that are far more complex than many American street scenarios, Tesla says that with FSD Supervised, the Model 3 could move through inner-city streets with little human supervision.
    — Peter Lyon, Forbes.com, 21 July 2025
  • What’s especially unique about this tiny house is its varied layout options.
    — Rylee Johnston, People.com, 20 July 2025
Definition of layout
Verb
  • According to Renaissance Capital, cornerstone investors intend to purchase 20% of the shares in the offering.
    — Beck Andrew Salgado, Austin American Statesman, 23 July 2025
  • The lineup intends to captivate audiences with legendary tales, daring new works, and performances that celebrate familiar and the fantastical stories.
    — Maggie Menderski, The Courier-Journal, 22 July 2025
Definition of intend
Verb
  • Consider personally submitting your tax payment to the IRS after your CPA has prepared them, review your tax returns every year.
    — Anne-Lyse Ngatta, Forbes.com, 15 July 2025
  • Researchers have used different types of strawberries prepared in different ways to assess their blood pressure benefits.
    — Mark Gurarie, Verywell Health, 15 July 2025
Definition of prepare
Noun
  • Neither the city's Office of Public Health and Safety nor the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department agreed to requests for interviews about the situation on Leonard Street and the city's evolving strategy for managing homeless camps.
    — Jordan Smith, IndyStar, 26 July 2025
  • That may be part of Williams’ strategy, because the Citi Open does not appear to be a one-off.
    — Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 25 July 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 29 Jul. 2025.

Copy Citation

Share

More from Merriam-Webster on design

Nglish: Translation of design for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Using Bullet Points ( • )

The Difference Between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.'

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Our Best Historical Slang Terms

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Better Ways to Say 'This Sucks'

8 Words with Fascinating Histories
See More

Popular

See More

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

Our Best Historical Slang Terms

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
anagrams on a chalk board
Word Builder Quiz Pick the letter that when added to a word will ma...
See All