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
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 designing
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
Adjective
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for designing
Adjective
-
Premiering in January 2023, The Traitors has gone on to widespread acclaim, even winning Emmys for Outstanding Reality Competition Program and Outstanding Host for a Reality or Reality Competition Program (Alan Cumming on cunning form).—
Griff Griffin,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 May 2025
-
In real life, most would-be Proud Boys don’t have cunning, progressive housemates who will throw away their gun parts.—
Amy Weiss-Meyer,
The Atlantic,
8 May 2025
Verb
-
For new investors in their early 20s or 30s who have never experienced a market correction or for someone planning on retiring soon, experiencing a market correction can be very unsettling.—
Earl Carr,
Forbes,
25 Mar. 2025
-
Some companies are already planning to raise prices in response.—
DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE STAFFFROM WIRE REPORTS,
arkansasonline.com,
1 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
The Special artist is also preparing to take on her first lead movie role as she was recently cast as gospel star Sister Rosetta Tharpe, who was one of the first to appeal to rock ‘n’ roll and R&B audiences, in Amazon MGM Studios’ Rosetta.—
Glenn Garner,
Deadline,
13 Apr. 2025
-
As the case was preparing to go to trial, in May 2004, the parties settled.—
Alex Zietlow,
Charlotte Observer,
13 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
At a press screening of the film in March, these cute, interstitial clips drew big laughs.—
Eric Renner Brown,
Billboard,
7 May 2025
-
Wine corks also make cute place card holders and wine glass charms.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
7 May 2025
Verb
-
The Women’s Christian Temperance Union group started in 1874 intending to end the consumption of alcohol in the United States.—
Elaine Shirley,
Baltimore Sun,
12 Apr. 2025
-
China is also targeting the moon, intending to land astronauts there by 2030.—
Mike Wall,
Space.com,
9 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Many probationary employees in the Science Mission Directorate, expecting not to come back the following week, spent Valentine’s Day and the weekend organizing their work and sending it to others, unprompted.—
David W. Brown,
The New Yorker,
21 Mar. 2025
-
Energy Transfer, the operator of the Dakota Access Pipeline, accused Greenpeace USA and International of playing a central role in organizing the resistance to the pipeline at Standing Rock in 2016 and 2017.—
Simmone Shah,
TIME,
21 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
Allen cited a particularly slick double play Albies turned recently.—
David O'Brien,
New York Times,
10 May 2025
-
Wooden tools may periodically need to be treated with beeswax to keep them smooth and slick.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
9 May 2025
Verb
-
In the book, Stewart shares advice on topics such as growing produce and arranging flowers.—
Claire Murashima,
NPR,
18 Mar. 2025
-
Before the repeal, Soto was arranging for free Spanish-language weddings in Little Havana and building up support for Dade County to retire its English-only policy.—
Douglas Hanks,
Miami Herald,
18 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Designing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/designing. Accessed 21 May. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share