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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
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
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
Example Sentences
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show current usage.
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Recent Examples of design
Jacqueline Tempera, PEOPLE, 5 Oct. 2025
Rooney Mara, the face of Givenchy’s L’Interdit fragrance, had worn both a Burton design and a dress from 1956 at the Cannes Film Festival, and couldn’t choose between the two.
—Joelle Diderich, Footwear News, 5 Oct. 2025
Brenda Goodman, CNN Money, 6 Oct. 2025
With a carbon-fiber body to assist in the target curb weight of 2,734 pounds, the GT3 R rennsport was designed by Style Porsche’s Grant Larson and Thorsten Klein, and features various elements that pay homage to more than one of the German automaker’s icons.
—Viju Mathew, Robb Report, 6 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for design
Noun
The soft, stretchy fabric and elastic waistband keep them comfortable, while the sleek design works for fitness classes, errands, or even a casual night out.
—Jacqueline Tempera, PEOPLE, 5 Oct. 2025
Rooney Mara, the face of Givenchy’s L’Interdit fragrance, had worn both a Burton design and a dress from 1956 at the Cannes Film Festival, and couldn’t choose between the two.
—Joelle Diderich, Footwear News, 5 Oct. 2025
Verb
In this case, the ACIP guidance formalizes an existing recommendation, which is designed to reduce a very rare, slightly elevated risk of seizures when the two shots are combined into a single injection.
—Brenda Goodman, CNN Money, 6 Oct. 2025
With a carbon-fiber body to assist in the target curb weight of 2,734 pounds, the GT3 R rennsport was designed by Style Porsche’s Grant Larson and Thorsten Klein, and features various elements that pay homage to more than one of the German automaker’s icons.
—Viju Mathew, Robb Report, 6 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for design
Recent Examples of Synonyms for design
Noun
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Defending Education’s Nicole Neily, who was also at McMahon’s confirmation, stood next to McMahon when the secretary announced an investigation into the Maine Department of Education for keeping records from parents about student gender identity plans.—
Megan O’Matz,
ProPublica,
8 Oct. 2025
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Containment is part of a larger plan for managing a wildfire.—
CA WILDFIRE BOT,
Sacbee.com,
8 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Rosenzweig worked on dozens of complex cases as a prosecutor in the economic crimes section, which focuses on healthcare fraud, money laundering and other financial schemes.—
Jay Weaver,
Miami Herald,
3 Oct. 2025
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The Lions’ surprisingly poor showing against their NFC North rivals kneecapped CBS’ deliveries, although the Eye Network also didn’t get much of a lift from the new BDP scheme.—
Anthony Crupi,
Sportico.com,
3 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The description herein is a summary and intended for informational purposes only and does not include all terms, conditions and exclusions of the policies described.—
David McMillin,
CNBC,
8 Oct. 2025
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Each piece was weathered and color-coded to signal hierarchy and purpose, grounding the film’s grand concept of a migrating Earth into reality.—
Kaif Shaikh,
Interesting Engineering,
8 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
That’s a running motif in Israeli art.—
Gershom Gorenberg,
The Atlantic,
3 Oct. 2025
-
Derrick Adams’ works celebrated the color and movement through vibrant geometric styles; David Shrigley featured wit and humor through banana motifs and Hattie Stewart leaned into a trippy take on optimism through Pop-Surrealist florals.—
Lisa Lockwood,
Footwear News,
2 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Generic 3-Bedroom Prefab Tiny Home The tiny home is fully customizable, but the layout my teens like has three bedrooms, each fitting a full- to queen-sized bed, a living room, a full kitchen, and one bathroom with a stunning marble-like shower.—
Chaunie Brusie,
Parents,
7 Oct. 2025
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The street track’s layout is tight and twisty, one that’s hard on the brakes and leaves little room for error.—
Madeline Coleman,
New York Times,
7 Oct. 2025
Verb
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These are not intended for prolonged play and may break.—
Chris McMullen,
Space.com,
8 Oct. 2025
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Here’s a candle that’s an especially great gift, especially if it’s intended for someone who feels affectionately for Maison Balzac’s cartoonish glassware.—
Audrey Lee,
Architectural Digest,
8 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
A week ago, the Boston Red Sox were preparing for their first trip to the postseason in four years.—
Jen McCaffrey,
New York Times,
7 Oct. 2025
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Participants will learn the basics of Dutch oven cooking and how to prepare various recipes, some that include wild game meat.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
7 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Drivers opted for different tire strategies up and down the grid.—
Madeline Coleman,
New York Times,
7 Oct. 2025
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Streaming consolidation, soaring production costs and the rapid rise of AI have forced executives to rethink business models and creative strategies.—
Scott Roxborough,
HollywoodReporter,
6 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Design.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/design. Accessed 9 Oct. 2025.
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