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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
This was a plan Boy had tried to set in motion with the help of his bodyguard Atom (Adrian Edmondson)—who was revealed to be the very first synth the boy genius ever built. Megan McCluskey, Time, 24 Sep. 2025 Williams visited with medical personnel to finalize plans in case of an injury, such as Lewis Cine’s compound fracture in 2022. Alec Lewis, New York Times, 24 Sep. 2025
Verb
Map shows protests planned on September 20. Kate Plummer, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Sep. 2025 The company plans to hold a three-hour all-hands meeting Wednesday, a source familiar with the meeting told CNN. Hadas Gold, CNN Money, 17 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for plan
Recent Examples of Synonyms for plan
Noun
  • And that was part of the strategy from the beginning.
    Washington Examiner Staff, The Washington Examiner, 23 Sep. 2025
  • Pritzker’s team has altered its press strategy in recent months, declining many remote television appearances in favor of interviews with friendly creators, at times to the frustration of local press.
    Max Tani, semafor.com, 22 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • After that, my goal is to relocate to a bigger city (London/Shanghai) to expand my commercial and personal practice while continuing this body of work.
    Caterina De Biasio, Vogue, 24 Sep. 2025
  • If the goal is to reduce embryo loss, contraception should be used.
    Mimi Zieman, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • To prepare for Dublin, beyond the constant stream of e-mails and phone calls, multiple Vikings staffers took an advance trip in June.
    Alec Lewis, New York Times, 24 Sep. 2025
  • And be prepared to strap into your breezy ripped jeans for the foreseeable.
    Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 24 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The company on Wednesday also debuted the Oakley Meta Vanguard smart glasses, intended for athletes who participate in high-intensity sports like snowboarding and mountain biking.
    Jonathan Vanian, CNBC, 18 Sep. 2025
  • The flypast was intended to showcase the strength of UK-US defense ties with a coordinated aerial display.
    Amanda Castro Hannah Parry Shane Croucher Jack Royston, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • What once felt like a limitation became the blueprint for a brand-new language of fitness.
    Matt Emma, USA Today, 23 Sep. 2025
  • The blueprint for victory in Australia looks simple on paper — score big runs, catch all your catches, take 20 wickets per match — but much harder to do in practice; particularly that last bit.
    James Wallace, New York Times, 22 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Someday, yes, but not conventionally now (there are efforts underway to devise specialized LLMs that can achieve those ends, built for that vaunted purpose).
    Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
  • Since late last year, China has ramped up its restrictions on exports of rare earths, even demanding proof that they will not be used for military purposes.
    Evelyn Cheng, CNBC, 17 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Today, the moral authority designed to flow from the UN’s service to humanity is in danger of being lost to the abuse of veto power, bureaucratic drift, withdrawal, aid cuts and political compromise.
    David Miliband, Time, 22 Sep. 2025
  • From supporting directors in pitching to studios, to designing characters and environments, planning complex sequences in pre-production, on set supervision, and delivering finals in post, VFX is woven into every stage of filmmaking.
    Zac Ntim, Deadline, 22 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Democrats also are contemplating hosting a midterm convention, as the party looks to boost turnout and raise more money.
    Zac Anderson, USA Today, 20 Sep. 2025
  • Current investors will need to exercise patience and closely monitor execution, while those contemplating a purchase should carefully assess the risks and avoid chasing short-term momentum.
    Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 19 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Plan.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/plan. Accessed 24 Sep. 2025.

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