1
as in choosing
to decide upon (the time or date for an event) usually from a position of authority
the designated time for the meeting
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in appointing
to pick (someone) by one's authority for a specific position or duty
he has yet to designate his successor as head of the firm
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in naming
to give a name to
he was designated "Air Jordan" by his fans
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of designating
In November, Abbott issued an executive order designating the Muslim Brotherhood and the Council on American-Islamic Relations — the latter a prominent civil rights group — as terrorist organizations.
—
Los Angeles Times, 18 Feb. 2026
Congress has never passed a law designating an official language for the country.
—Stephanie Kanowitz, Miami Herald, 11 Feb. 2026
In response, the company shook up its online strategy, designating some stores as locations where employees pick and pack online orders to ship to customers' homes and dropping that altogether at other locations.
—Melissa Repko, CNBC, 9 Feb. 2026
Los Angeles opened a roster spot by designating right-hander Kaleb Ort for assignment.
—CBS News, 6 Feb. 2026
The Rockies opened two spots on their 40-man roster by trading Chivilli and by designating outfielder Yanquiel Fernández for assignment.
—Patrick Saunders, Denver Post, 28 Jan. 2026
In June, the City Council passed legislation again sponsored by Manaa-Hoppenworth, designating the entire 48th Ward as an LAC, the first such designation of a whole ward in Chicago.
—Jack Markowski, Chicago Tribune, 26 Jan. 2026
Yet European governments have rapidly pivoted from designating HTS leaders as terrorists to treating them as governing counterparts.
—Güney Yıldız, Forbes.com, 24 Jan. 2026
In April, the Pan American Health Organization’s committee on this topic will meet to determine whether the virus has been circulating in the same chain of transmission for 12 months, which is a key metric for designating the disease’s status.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 23 Jan. 2026
Los Angeles Times, 18 Feb. 2026
Congress has never passed a law designating an official language for the country.
—Stephanie Kanowitz, Miami Herald, 11 Feb. 2026
In response, the company shook up its online strategy, designating some stores as locations where employees pick and pack online orders to ship to customers' homes and dropping that altogether at other locations.
—Melissa Repko, CNBC, 9 Feb. 2026
Los Angeles opened a roster spot by designating right-hander Kaleb Ort for assignment.
—CBS News, 6 Feb. 2026
The Rockies opened two spots on their 40-man roster by trading Chivilli and by designating outfielder Yanquiel Fernández for assignment.
—Patrick Saunders, Denver Post, 28 Jan. 2026
In June, the City Council passed legislation again sponsored by Manaa-Hoppenworth, designating the entire 48th Ward as an LAC, the first such designation of a whole ward in Chicago.
—Jack Markowski, Chicago Tribune, 26 Jan. 2026
Yet European governments have rapidly pivoted from designating HTS leaders as terrorists to treating them as governing counterparts.
—Güney Yıldız, Forbes.com, 24 Jan. 2026
In April, the Pan American Health Organization’s committee on this topic will meet to determine whether the virus has been circulating in the same chain of transmission for 12 months, which is a key metric for designating the disease’s status.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 23 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for designating
Verb
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Talent is a leading indicator of success in an organization, and the talent that’s choosing to go to MLS is getting better and better.—
Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson,
semafor.com,
28 Feb. 2026
-
There’s still a time and place for the pristine glassware, fancy silver, and perfectly arranged centerpieces, but no one is going to judge you if there’s a little dust bunny in the corner or for choosing paper napkins over linen.—
Cameron Beall,
Southern Living,
27 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The recent revelations reignited Labour lawmakers’ anger at Starmer’s poor judgment in appointing Mandelson to the Washington job, and pushed some to call for his resignation.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
25 Feb. 2026
-
The Texas Legislature in 2011 outlined that the commission cannot do anything beyond appointing, accepting the resignation of or recommending the termination of the county’s election administrator.—
Rachel Royster,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
24 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Virginia honored Bennett in a ceremony before Saturday’s 86-83 win over Miami, naming the court at John Paul Jones Arena after him.—
Los Angeles Times staff,
Los Angeles Times,
25 Feb. 2026
-
Apart from publicly naming himself, Fincke did not give details about his medical condition.—
Jackie Wattles,
CNN Money,
25 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The more senior players should, in theory, be setting standards and taking their younger team-mates along with them, but appear unable to do either.—
Oliver Kay,
New York Times,
28 Feb. 2026
-
Hartsuch appealed, but in October 2025, the Iowa Court of Appeals upheld the district court’s ruling, setting the stage for Hartsuch’s newest lawsuit alleging the board’s actions were unreasonable, violated his rights and destroyed his livelihood.—
Clark Kauffman,
Iowa Capital Dispatch,
28 Feb. 2026
Verb
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This year, the party has another chance to try something other than nominating a conventional liberal who loses and then gets to run an NGO.—
Jonathan Chait,
The Atlantic,
5 Feb. 2026
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Some people thought not nominating Gwyneth Paltrow as an aging actress was a snub; Odessa A'zion deserved a nomination, as well.—
Bill Goodykoontz,
AZCentral.com,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
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His prosecution has sparked outrage on social media and prompted several petitions calling for the charges against him to be dropped, including one signed by more than 380,000 people.—
Faith Karimi,
CNN Money,
1 Mar. 2026
-
Men and women stepped onto their balconies, watching the crowd stream past—not an unusual sight there since liberation, except that now there were no tri-star revolutionary flags, no banners calling for freedom.—
Anand Gopal,
New Yorker,
28 Feb. 2026
Verb
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That’s more than two points higher than the same time period in the 2020 primaries and almost six points higher than the same time period in the 2024 primaries, when voters were selecting party presidential nominees.—
Data Reporter,
Austin American Statesman,
26 Feb. 2026
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Rhett Lashlee’s easiest decision of the offseason may have been selecting a replacement for defensive coordinator Scott Symons.—
Lia Assimakopoulos,
Dallas Morning News,
26 Feb. 2026
Verb
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To address that dilemma, the pediatric hospital implemented literacy screenings in about half of its 13 clinics, assigning a literacy coordinator to each.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
26 Feb. 2026
-
To address that dilemma, the pediatric hospital implemented literacy screenings in about half of its 13 clinics, assigning a literacy coordinator to each.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
25 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Designating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/designating. Accessed 2 Mar. 2026.
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