as in cunning
clever at attaining one's ends by indirect and often deceptive means
a fraudulent scheme contrived by a group of greedy and designing people
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in planning
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 preparing
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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Recent Examples of designing
Jim Cramer, CNBC, 9 Apr. 2026
That means brands funding cooling infrastructure, working with workers and unions to establish robust heat-stress protections and co-designing transition plans with workers from the outset.
—Jasmin Malik Chua, Sourcing Journal, 5 Dec. 2025
That means giving up or sharing power and privilege and doing the hard work of listening and co-designing solutions with the marginalized groups.
—Setche Kwamu-Nana, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Nov. 2020
In the 1960s, the computing pioneer Grace Murray Hopper would hand out 11.8-inch lengths of wire to illustrate how designing smaller electronic parts would create faster computers.
—John Markoff, New York Times, 29 June 2018
Abigail Hasebroock, Sun Sentinel, 2 May 2026
The city is currently designing its next 20‑year stormwater management plan and has posted a survey on its website for residents to share concerns and priorities.
—Bo Evans, CBS News, 1 May 2026
Steven Mnuchin made his mark designing and promoting the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, and Janet Yellen was the only person to also head the Federal Reserve and the Council of Economic Advisers.
—Fatima Hussein, Chicago Tribune, 1 May 2026
In a conversation with IEEE Spectrum, Woolfson lays out both the promise and the limits of designing life.
—Eliza Strickland, IEEE Spectrum, 30 Apr. 2026
Attendees will receive information about stocking an emergency kit, developing an emergency plan, designing or modifying the space around your home to resist wildfire.
—Ramona Sentinel, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Apr. 2026
In early March, engineers from the Armaments Center began designing, explosive pressing, housing manufacturing and integrating the warhead to be used on a low-cost and expendable one-way attack drone.
—Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 25 Apr. 2026
In a way, Tim Cook's superpower was always taking the innovation in Cupertino and orchestrating the external forces to bring it to life, through perfecting the supply chain and designing supplier relationships as chief operating officer, and eventually practicing international diplomacy as CEO.
—Kai Nicol-Schwarz, CNBC, 24 Apr. 2026
Purdue’s attorneys said in court that the company played no role in designing the claims process.
—Craig R. McCoy, CNN Money, 24 Apr. 2026
Adjective
Marvell’s business co-designing custom AI chips is usually what gets the most attention.
—Jim Cramer, CNBC, 9 Apr. 2026
That means brands funding cooling infrastructure, working with workers and unions to establish robust heat-stress protections and co-designing transition plans with workers from the outset.
—Jasmin Malik Chua, Sourcing Journal, 5 Dec. 2025
That means giving up or sharing power and privilege and doing the hard work of listening and co-designing solutions with the marginalized groups.
—Setche Kwamu-Nana, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Nov. 2020
In the 1960s, the computing pioneer Grace Murray Hopper would hand out 11.8-inch lengths of wire to illustrate how designing smaller electronic parts would create faster computers.
—John Markoff, New York Times, 29 June 2018
Verb
But county documents also detail conditions the project should meet to address impacts, including designing buildings to dampen sound and adding landscape buffers.
—Abigail Hasebroock, Sun Sentinel, 2 May 2026
The city is currently designing its next 20‑year stormwater management plan and has posted a survey on its website for residents to share concerns and priorities.
—Bo Evans, CBS News, 1 May 2026
Steven Mnuchin made his mark designing and promoting the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, and Janet Yellen was the only person to also head the Federal Reserve and the Council of Economic Advisers.
—Fatima Hussein, Chicago Tribune, 1 May 2026
In a conversation with IEEE Spectrum, Woolfson lays out both the promise and the limits of designing life.
—Eliza Strickland, IEEE Spectrum, 30 Apr. 2026
Attendees will receive information about stocking an emergency kit, developing an emergency plan, designing or modifying the space around your home to resist wildfire.
—Ramona Sentinel, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Apr. 2026
In early March, engineers from the Armaments Center began designing, explosive pressing, housing manufacturing and integrating the warhead to be used on a low-cost and expendable one-way attack drone.
—Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 25 Apr. 2026
In a way, Tim Cook's superpower was always taking the innovation in Cupertino and orchestrating the external forces to bring it to life, through perfecting the supply chain and designing supplier relationships as chief operating officer, and eventually practicing international diplomacy as CEO.
—Kai Nicol-Schwarz, CNBC, 24 Apr. 2026
Purdue’s attorneys said in court that the company played no role in designing the claims process.
—Craig R. McCoy, CNN Money, 24 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for designing
Adjective
-
There’s arguably no one better placed to collaborate with VFX artists on a motion-capture performance than Serkis, who’s delivered innocence, cunning, cruelty, longing, and kindness in roles that run from Golum to Caesar to King Kong himself.—
Sarah Shachat,
IndieWire,
4 May 2026
-
As Michael moves into solo stardom and makes cunning business moves, the film captures how his seemingly naive idealism was also a form of ambition.—
Spencer Kornhaber,
The Atlantic,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
An hour before Hitchcock's execution, Texas is planning to put James Broadnax to death for the 2008 double murder of two Christian music producers in the Dallas suburb of Garland.—
Amanda Lee Myers,
USA Today,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Countries across the Gulf have arrested scores of people during the war, on charges ranging from posting images of wartime damage, to planning terrorist attacks with Iran.—
Dominic Dudley,
semafor.com,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Those pitching-only days weren’t a regular occurrence when Ohtani was with the Angels, but now Ohtani is also preparing for what’s expected to be a deep postseason run.—
Maddie Lee,
Los Angeles Times,
5 May 2026
-
Alegría credited the pair’s experienced producing partners with helping guide them through the most unfamiliar process of preparing for the final cut and getting ready for the marketing, press, distribution conversations with Amazon as well as FilmNation.—
Cynthia Littleton,
Variety,
4 May 2026
Adjective
-
The clothes were cute, though, if not a little costumey.—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
1 May 2026
-
This adorable cloud pillow shows Harry’s iconic lightning bolt scar and is a seriously cute addition to any fan’s collection of memorabilia.—
Jason Pham,
StyleCaster,
1 May 2026
Verb
-
Prosecutors say that Allen tried to storm the dinner − where Vice President JD Vance and others from the administration were also in attendance − with multiple guns and knives, intending to kill high-ranking officials.—
Brendan Morrow,
USA Today,
3 May 2026
-
From Stoll's perspective, Howard wasn't intending to kill his lover.—
Julia Moore,
PEOPLE,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Parents are also organizing a bake sale at the event, and a direct donation campaign is underway.—
Amy Stark Shireman,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
30 Apr. 2026
-
During Barack Obama’s presidency, conservative funders invested in grassroots organizing to beat the left’s turnout and persuasion machines.—
David Weigel,
semafor.com,
29 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Major West Bank roads are lined with Israeli flags and slick new real estate billboards advertising affordable housing in settlements in Hebrew.—
Molly Hunter,
NBC news,
2 May 2026
-
Find something a recruit is interested in and a picture of him, and AI can produce a (relatively) slick graphic pretty quickly.—
Antonio Morales,
New York Times,
1 May 2026
Verb
-
Clerk-Treasurer Corinne Peffers was also authorized to contact the Barnes & Thornburg law firm as counsel in arranging for a general obligation bond to finance the purchase.—
Jim Woods,
Chicago Tribune,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Grab a wide and shallow bowl, place a floral frog inside, and start arranging the tulip stems in an organic way.—
Maria Sabella,
Better Homes & Gardens,
29 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Designing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/designing. Accessed 7 May. 2026.
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