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
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
Dermot Corrigan, New York Times, 9 Nov. 2025
Bluegame made excellent use of the open-plan interior, designing a large, broad main salon into the footprint, with large windows.
—Michael Verdon, Robb Report, 7 Nov. 2025
Murakami has teamed up with the Dodgers several times over the past year, designing some of the hottest t-shirts, hats, hoodies, and jerseys on the market for Dodgers fans.
—Ben Verbrugge, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Nov. 2025
Speaking at Tesla’s annual meeting, Musk said the company is designing its fifth-generation AI processor, called the AI5, to support self-driving and robotics efforts.
—Jeff Kilburg, CNBC, 7 Nov. 2025
But designing systems that are both compact and efficient has always been a major engineering challenge.
—Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 6 Nov. 2025
His learnings from working with the mass retailer have played into this ethos of designing great wardrobing for the luxury woman, which has played into the designer’s global expansion.
—Emily Mercer, Footwear News, 5 Nov. 2025
Beyond designing a campaign that aimed to unite both sides of the Israel-Palestine debate, Mamdani made an effort to reach communities that are often overlooked during election season, including by releasing campaign materials in multiple languages.
—Kyler Alvord, PEOPLE, 5 Nov. 2025
In the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, when there were not enough ventilators for the patients who needed them, a team at NASA JPL was charged with designing a ventilator that could be rapidly produced without taking parts away from the critical medical supply chain.
—Michele Raphael, USA Today, 24 Oct. 2025
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
Verb
Perez does not break down training into physical and tactical work, instead designing complex exercises so players build fitness while practising real-game situations.
—Dermot Corrigan, New York Times, 9 Nov. 2025
Bluegame made excellent use of the open-plan interior, designing a large, broad main salon into the footprint, with large windows.
—Michael Verdon, Robb Report, 7 Nov. 2025
Murakami has teamed up with the Dodgers several times over the past year, designing some of the hottest t-shirts, hats, hoodies, and jerseys on the market for Dodgers fans.
—Ben Verbrugge, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Nov. 2025
Speaking at Tesla’s annual meeting, Musk said the company is designing its fifth-generation AI processor, called the AI5, to support self-driving and robotics efforts.
—Jeff Kilburg, CNBC, 7 Nov. 2025
But designing systems that are both compact and efficient has always been a major engineering challenge.
—Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 6 Nov. 2025
His learnings from working with the mass retailer have played into this ethos of designing great wardrobing for the luxury woman, which has played into the designer’s global expansion.
—Emily Mercer, Footwear News, 5 Nov. 2025
Beyond designing a campaign that aimed to unite both sides of the Israel-Palestine debate, Mamdani made an effort to reach communities that are often overlooked during election season, including by releasing campaign materials in multiple languages.
—Kyler Alvord, PEOPLE, 5 Nov. 2025
In the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, when there were not enough ventilators for the patients who needed them, a team at NASA JPL was charged with designing a ventilator that could be rapidly produced without taking parts away from the critical medical supply chain.
—Michele Raphael, USA Today, 24 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for designing
Adjective
-
Fueled by vengeance and cunning ambition, Ashur rises from betrayal and bloodshed to seize power, gouging out a place for the House of Ashur in a new arena full of violence, desire, and twisted loyalty.—
Rosy Cordero,
Deadline,
30 Oct. 2025
-
The elaborate scheme, masterminded by members of four Mafia families in collusion with celebrity athletes, ensnared unsuspecting victims, bleeding them of over $7 million through cunning deception, prosecutors said in the indictment.—
Alaa Elassar,
CNN Money,
27 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The next year, eleven journalists went on to form the White House Correspondents’ Association in response to rumors that the Congressional Standing Committee of Correspondents was planning on selecting which reporters were invited to presidential news conferences.—
JSTOR Daily,
JSTOR Daily,
7 Nov. 2025
-
They had been alerted that Running Fence was planning to enter the ocean despite having no permit.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Vietnam is preparing for damaging winds, flooding, heavy rain and storm surges in its central provinces including Danang, Quang Ngai and Dak Lak.—
Helen Regan,
CNN Money,
6 Nov. 2025
-
Two or three chefs work right in front of you, preparing each dish in the traditional omakase style.—
Aaron Randolph,
Travel + Leisure,
5 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Fall travel season is here, and my suitcase is officially in its comfy-but-cute era.—
Chaise Sanders,
Travel + Leisure,
8 Nov. 2025
-
Shoppers call out the cute and functional design.—
Kim Grundy,
PEOPLE,
8 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
After the death of his addict father, Ethan heads back to see if there’s any money to be made from selling his home, intending to stay, only briefly, with his aunt Sarah, Metcalf’s character, a Brunhilde of the high prairie.—
Jackson McHenry,
Vulture,
31 Oct. 2025
-
Combs’ lawyers filed a two-page court document on Monday, October 20 intending to appeal his conviction.—
Danielle Bacher,
PEOPLE,
29 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The police department’s various districts are organizing fundraisers to send officers to National Police Week.—
David Clarey,
jsonline.com,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Something that makes any trip easier is organizing all my devices and their charging cables into one place.—
John Lonsdale,
Travel + Leisure,
7 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
The slick lobby was guarded by uniformed doormen and the elevator took me to a long polished corridor leading to a big mahogany door.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
6 Nov. 2025
-
But Ratanaruang’s most essential collaborator is, again, Doyle, who uses desaturated 16mm to evoke Sao’s past and slick digital cinematography to capture her present.—
Katie Rife,
IndieWire,
5 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
E-commerce transactions are managed end-to-end without friction, from building a shopping cart and applying discounts to arranging delivery and processing returns.—
Emma Burleigh,
Fortune,
3 Nov. 2025
-
Join Chloe Mullen, a junior at Cathedral Catholic High School and member of the National Honor Society, for a special flower arranging workshop.—
Kris Slugg,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
3 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Designing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/designing. Accessed 15 Nov. 2025.
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