project 1 of 2

Definition of projectnext

project

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verb

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun project contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of project are design, plan, plot, and scheme. While all these words mean "a method devised for making or doing something or achieving an end," project often stresses imaginative scope and vision.

a project to develop the waterfront

When would design be a good substitute for project?

Although the words design and project have much in common, design often suggests a particular pattern and some degree of achieved order or harmony.

a design for a new dress

In what contexts can plan take the place of project?

The synonyms plan and project are sometimes interchangeable, but plan always implies mental formulation and sometimes graphic representation.

plans for a house

When is plot a more appropriate choice than project?

The words plot and project are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, plot implies a laying out in clearly distinguished sections with attention to their relations and proportions.

the plot of the play

When might scheme be a better fit than project?

In some situations, the words scheme and project are roughly equivalent. However, 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 project
Noun
Amazon is quietly shelving its Blue Jay project months after introducing the robotic picking and stowing system in a South Carolina fulfillment center last October. Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 20 Feb. 2026 In August 2009, Ferguson said various companies were interested in being part of the project and thanked him for helping, according to the documents. Sarah D. Wire, USA Today, 20 Feb. 2026
Verb
While artificial intelligence is reshaping how the technical work is done, employment in many engineering fields is still projected to grow over the next decade, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Mike Winters, CNBC, 21 Feb. 2026 The National Weather Service increased its assessment of the potential severity of a storm that was projected to be less ferocious only days earlier. CBS News, 21 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for project
Recent Examples of Synonyms for project
Noun
  • Other companies have plans for LEO space stations as well.
    Mike Wall, Space.com, 16 Feb. 2026
  • Navarro did not detail what the White House’s plan to force data center builders to absorb costs would look like.
    Yeo Boon Ping, CNBC, 16 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • This anatomy features a lower jaw with teeth that protrude out between the upper set—a trait previously only seen in flying pterosaurs, marine ichthyosaurs, and semiaquatic crocodilian predators.
    Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 19 Feb. 2026
  • Around the side, the former casino facade is now the front of Joe Leaphorn’s workplace, the Kayenta tribal police station, complete with protruding wood beams.
    Pat Saperstein, Variety, 15 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Meta and YouTube are accused of intentionally designing addictive features that hooked a now-20-year-old woman as a child and harmed her mental health.
    Clare Duffy, CNN Money, 17 Feb. 2026
  • The researchers say the approach could support the development of artificial skin, soft robotics, wearable electronics, and protective textile coatings designed for demanding conditions.
    Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 17 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • From this perspective, simply following the same blueprint that has worked during the stock’s comeback over the last few years could yield a similar result.
    Frank Cappelleri, CNBC, 18 Feb. 2026
  • One blueprint for aura farming comes courtesy of a viral video of a boy dancing nonchalantly on a race boat.
    Charles Trepany, USA Today, 17 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Social media users have also been poking fun at how popular the jackets are among the Asian diaspora.
    Stephy Chung, CNN Money, 17 Feb. 2026
  • Start by checking the soil’s moisture by poking a finger 2 inches into the top of the soil.
    Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 17 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • The group is preparing to study microplastics in the lake.
    TRAVIS LOLLER, Arkansas Online, 16 Feb. 2026
  • This seasonal dip requires just 10 minutes of hands-on time and can be prepared a few days in advance of serving.
    Lisa Cericola, Southern Living, 15 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • At the same time, the strategy reflects a broader push to diversify beyond conventional lithium-ion platforms while improving safety, cost structure, and supply chain resilience.
    Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 21 Feb. 2026
  • Crucially, community-building was never conceived as a strategy.
    Amy Francombe, Vogue, 20 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • And that song definitely stands out on our third EP.
    Rebecca Cairns, CNN Money, 19 Feb. 2026
  • Across the calm waters behind a pumping station near Lake Borgne, hundreds of saplings stand out in the mist, wrapped in white plastic cylinders.
    Melina Walling, Los Angeles Times, 19 Feb. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Project.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/project. Accessed 22 Feb. 2026.

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