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plan

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verb

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun plan contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of plan are design, plot, project, and scheme. While all these words mean "a method devised for making or doing something or achieving an end," plan always implies mental formulation and sometimes graphic representation.

plans for a house

When is design a more appropriate choice than plan?

While in some cases nearly identical to plan, design often suggests a particular pattern and some degree of achieved order or harmony.

a design for a new dress

When could plot be used to replace plan?

While the synonyms plot and plan are close in meaning, plot implies a laying out in clearly distinguished sections with attention to their relations and proportions.

the plot of the play

When is it sensible to use project instead of plan?

In some situations, the words project and plan are roughly equivalent. However, project often stresses imaginative scope and vision.

a project to develop the waterfront

Where would scheme be a reasonable alternative to plan?

The synonyms scheme and plan are sometimes interchangeable, but 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 plan
Noun
So By Giulia Carbonaro US News Reporter Newsweek Is A Trust Project Member news article 133 A growing number of Americans are looking at dual citizenship as a fallback plan in times of widespread uncertainty and deepening political divisions, with young people leading the change. Giulia Carbonaro, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 May 2025 Containment is part of a larger plan for managing a wildfire. Ca Wildfire Bot, Sacbee.com, 24 May 2025
Verb
As planned, Trump went on to call Zelensky and other European leaders. Rebecca Schneid, Time, 25 May 2025 Those who stayed were treated to an unexpected, magical celebration, especially the bride and groom, who had allowed the stress of wedding planning to be washed away. Tereza Shkurtaj, People.com, 25 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for plan
Recent Examples of Synonyms for plan
Noun
  • That’s exactly where many organizations are flying blind, building AI agents without a strategy for how to keep them running, governed and optimized at scale.
    Kolawole Samuel Adebayo, Forbes.com, 26 May 2025
  • Amy Cameron – an executive, writer and producer – and Tassie Cameron, a showrunner and executive producer – founded Cameron Pictures and manage it alongside executive producer Alex Patrick, who leads on strategy and business and legal affairs.
    Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 26 May 2025
Noun
  • Those goals were just the fourth and fifth in 14 games this spring.
    Daniel Nugent-Bowman, New York Times, 26 May 2025
  • The goal is to haul Ford vehicles from the Kentucky Truck Plant to dealerships anywhere in the nation.
    Jamie L. LaReau, USA Today, 26 May 2025
Verb
  • Several media outlets reported earlier this month that the Trump administration was preparing releasing the full audio.
    Sarah D. Wire, USA Today, 18 May 2025
  • This is when everything used for the production is broken back down and prepared to be returned or stored.
    Harrison Richlin, IndieWire, 17 May 2025
Verb
  • That arrangement was always intended to be temporary, but for nearly two decades, the details of untangling such massive, important institutions have bedeviled three presidential administrations – including Trump’s first.
    Andrea Riquier, USA Today, 23 May 2025
  • The live-action Lilo & Stitch was originally intended to to go straight to Disney+, helping to explain its modest $100 million production budget.
    Pamela McClintock, HollywoodReporter, 23 May 2025
Noun
  • This marks a transition for Robinhood, from a mobile brokerage to a potential regulatory blueprint builder.
    Sandy Carter, Forbes.com, 20 May 2025
  • This allows the unit to do double duty as a single-ear Bluetooth earpiece and microphone for taking calls while looking up construction blueprints or deployment plans on the phone.
    Paul Ridden May 19, New Atlas, 19 May 2025
Noun
  • This article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial, investment, legal, or cryptocurrency advice.
    William Jones, USA Today, 22 May 2025
  • The food connoisseur knew her purpose was in the kitchen from an early age and has steadfastly surrendered to that journey ever since.
    Elizabeth Ayoola, Essence, 21 May 2025
Verb
  • Most Popular Most Popular Pratt & Whitney workers entering third week of strike while preparing to lose health care Property of week: Historic home with in-ground pool and dock with water access A CT hospital is opening a new unit designed to keep people out of the emergency room.
    Mac Cerullo, Hartford Courant, 19 May 2025
  • The Trump administration agreed to not apply the machine gun ban to such devices so long as they are not designed for use with handguns.
    Nate Raymond, USA Today, 18 May 2025
Verb
  • But nobody within the club is contemplating that possibility.
    Matt Woosnam, New York Times, 17 May 2025
  • Tessa's contemplating a major move for her career while her estranged addict father forces his way back into her life.
    Megan Vick, EW.com, 17 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Plan.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/plan. Accessed 30 May. 2025.

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