Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

Thesaurus

goal

noun

Synonyms and Antonyms of goal

something that one hopes or intends to accomplish

  • leaving the world a better place than I found it is one of my main goals
Synonyms of goal

aim, ambition, aspiration, bourne (also bourn), design, dream, end, idea, ideal, intent, intention, mark, meaning, object, objective, plan, point, pretension, purpose, target, thing
Words Related to goal

grail, holy grail

plot, project, scheme

desire, hope, mind, wish

nirvana

destination, terminus
Phrases Synonymous with goal

name of the game
Near Antonyms of goal

means, method, way

Synonym Discussion of goal

intention, intent, purpose, design, aim, end, object, objective, goal mean what one intends to accomplish or attain. intention implies little more than what one has in mind to do or bring about.
    • announced his intention to marry
intent suggests clearer formulation or greater deliberateness.
    • the clear intent of the statute
purpose suggests a more settled determination.
    • being successful was her purpose in life
design implies a more carefully calculated plan.
    • the order of events came by accident, not design
aim adds to these implications of effort directed toward attaining or accomplishing.
    • her aim was to raise film to an art form
end stresses the intended effect of action often in distinction or contrast to the action or means as such.
    • willing to use any means to achieve his end
object may equal end but more often applies to a more individually determined wish or need.
    • his constant object was the achievement of pleasure
objective implies something tangible and immediately attainable.
    • their objective is to seize the oil fields
goal suggests something attained only by prolonged effort and hardship.
    • worked years to reach her goals

Learn More about goal

  1. See words that rhyme with goal Dictionary: Definition of goal Spanish Central: Translation of goal Nglish: Translation of goal for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of goal for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about goal

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up goal? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show comments hide comments

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

WORD OF THE DAY

milieu

the setting in which something occurs

Get Word of the Day daily email!

TRENDING NOW

  1. Spartan Red Cross Warns of Shelter Conditions

  2. hirsute RIP Burt Reynolds

  3. op-ed NYT Publishes Anonymous Piece

  4. collegiality Kavanaugh Mentions Word in Hearing

  5. mistrial Manafort Guilty on 8 Counts

SEE ALL

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games