as in concocting
to create or think of by clever use of the imagination
she quickly devised a new scheme when the first one failed
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Recent Examples of devising
Yet, after its ratification in 1870, Southern states set about trying to circumvent the amendment's intent by devising new ways to shape, control, and limit voting.
—
Time, 29 Oct. 2025
For 39 years, Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act has required redistricting institutions to consider racial and ethnic minority representation when devising congressional districts.
—Sam D. Hayes, The Conversation, 13 Oct. 2025
The problem in devising such a tax is defining what constitutes a robot.
—Zach Halaschak, The Washington Examiner, 10 Oct. 2025
The movie strives to apply logic, inviting laughs (which are not unwelcome in the tense genre), but ultimately succeeds by devising a formula where two threats — ghosts and serial killers — come calling.
—Peter Debruge, Variety, 8 Oct. 2025
The two quickly built a rapport, and Preservation began sending ‘Nandez beats, eventually inviting him to New Orleans to hang out while devising the project’s sonic core and predominant themes.
—Andre Gee, Rolling Stone, 30 Sep. 2025
With final approval, the district will now form a seven-member architectural review committee that will be charged with devising design review guidelines for the area.
—Killian Baarlaer, Louisville Courier Journal, 28 Sep. 2025
In devising the schedules, the conference office aimed for competitive balance, taking into account each team’s records from 2021-24 and using them to strategically place matchups.
—Seth Emerson, New York Times, 23 Sep. 2025
At the same time, the Justice Department is devising its own means to target anyone who opposes the President’s immigration policies.
—Jonathan Blitzer, New Yorker, 20 Sep. 2025
Time, 29 Oct. 2025
For 39 years, Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act has required redistricting institutions to consider racial and ethnic minority representation when devising congressional districts.
—Sam D. Hayes, The Conversation, 13 Oct. 2025
The problem in devising such a tax is defining what constitutes a robot.
—Zach Halaschak, The Washington Examiner, 10 Oct. 2025
The movie strives to apply logic, inviting laughs (which are not unwelcome in the tense genre), but ultimately succeeds by devising a formula where two threats — ghosts and serial killers — come calling.
—Peter Debruge, Variety, 8 Oct. 2025
The two quickly built a rapport, and Preservation began sending ‘Nandez beats, eventually inviting him to New Orleans to hang out while devising the project’s sonic core and predominant themes.
—Andre Gee, Rolling Stone, 30 Sep. 2025
With final approval, the district will now form a seven-member architectural review committee that will be charged with devising design review guidelines for the area.
—Killian Baarlaer, Louisville Courier Journal, 28 Sep. 2025
In devising the schedules, the conference office aimed for competitive balance, taking into account each team’s records from 2021-24 and using them to strategically place matchups.
—Seth Emerson, New York Times, 23 Sep. 2025
At the same time, the Justice Department is devising its own means to target anyone who opposes the President’s immigration policies.
—Jonathan Blitzer, New Yorker, 20 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for devising
Verb
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China has also been concocting a pretext for action.—
Charlie Campbell,
Time,
23 Oct. 2025
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But in the late 1800s, food companies began concocting products that were wildly different from anything people could make themselves.—
Alice Callahan,
New York Times,
16 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Several tech players are already constructing private energy plants for their own use as part of their data center buildouts, so there is nothing radical about Democrats insisting on tying approvals for data centers to bearing the cost of enhancing the public grid.—
Tom Rogers,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 Nov. 2025
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And Laurel Street Residential is constructing a mixed-income building.—
Desiree Mathurin,
Charlotte Observer,
4 Nov. 2025
Verb
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This geometric architecture may even explain how complex organisms evolved so rapidly — not by inventing new genes, but by rearranging the ways existing ones are used.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
29 Oct. 2025
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But truths go ignored, the film argues, when everyone prefers inventing realities for themselves.—
Shirley Li,
The Atlantic,
22 Oct. 2025
Verb
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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
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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
Cite this Entry
“Devising.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/devising. Accessed 10 Nov. 2025.
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