goal

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun goal contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of goal are aim, design, end, intention, intent, objective, object, and purpose. While all these words mean "what one intends to accomplish or attain," goal suggests something attained only by prolonged effort and hardship.

worked years to reach her goals

When could aim be used to replace goal?

The meanings of aim and goal largely overlap; however, aim adds to these implications of effort directed toward attaining or accomplishing.

her aim was to raise film to an art form

When is it sensible to use design instead of goal?

The words design and goal are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, design implies a more carefully calculated plan.

the order of events came by accident, not design

When can end be used instead of goal?

While the synonyms end and goal are close in meaning, 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

In what contexts can intent take the place of goal?

The words intent and goal can be used in similar contexts, but intent suggests clearer formulation or greater deliberateness.

the clear intent of the statute

When might intention be a better fit than goal?

While in some cases nearly identical to goal, intention implies little more than what one has in mind to do or bring about.

announced his intention to marry

How do object and end relate to one another, in the sense of goal?

Object may equal end but more often applies to a more individually determined wish or need.

his constant object was the achievement of pleasure

When is objective a more appropriate choice than goal?

The synonyms objective and goal are sometimes interchangeable, but objective implies something tangible and immediately attainable.

their objective is to seize the oil fields

When would purpose be a good substitute for goal?

Although the words purpose and goal have much in common, purpose suggests a more settled determination.

being successful was her purpose in life

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 goal That was my main goal through all of this — to help her feel understood and for people to hopefully, by watching this, understand her more. Jackie Strause, HollywoodReporter, 3 Oct. 2025 My primary goal is getting as much time as possible with my family: That's more important than anything else. Wendy Grossman Kantor, PEOPLE, 3 Oct. 2025 A number of Indigenous alumni quoted in the book say their next goal is to host a campus powwow, a colorful festival filled with Native drummers, traditional dancing, crafts, frybread, meat pies and Native games like stickball, which evolved into lacrosse. Hollace Ava Weiner, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 Oct. 2025 Our goal was to bring down not only her body temperature but also the fetus’s heart rate, since a high heart rate can place dangerous stress on the fetus. Tami S. Rowen, The Conversation, 3 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for goal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for goal
Noun
  • Personality and purpose Upon entering the home, the first room one notices is Catherine's spacious office, which sits just to the left of the front door.
    Lennie Omalza, Louisville Courier Journal, 2 Oct. 2025
  • While the Sixers theoretically have four centers, one is the brittle Joel Embiid, two are youngsters who haven’t clearly established themselves yet (Adem Bona and Johni Broome) and the other is a near-the-end Andre Drummond, who might also be traded for tax purposes.
    John Hollinger, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Those designing the new main building decided to cut that association, the aim being to make the first-team facilities an area players must aspire to enter.
    Laurie Whitwell, New York Times, 7 Oct. 2025
  • The aim is to gather intelligence through photos, video and logging suspicious vessels in the East China Sea to be shared with the United Nations' Enforcement Coordination Cell.
    Brendan Cole, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Defending Education’s Nicole Neily, who was also at McMahon’s confirmation, stood next to McMahon when the secretary announced an investigation into the Maine Department of Education for keeping records from parents about student gender identity plans.
    Megan O’Matz, ProPublica, 8 Oct. 2025
  • Containment is part of a larger plan for managing a wildfire.
    CA WILDFIRE BOT, Sacbee.com, 8 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Scientists often pursue research that falls into this category without specific applications or commercial objectives in mind.
    Ryan Summers, The Conversation, 3 Oct. 2025
  • By playing Washington and an extra lineman, the Steelers achieved their objective.
    Mike DeFabo, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Your intention may be to transition your closet from winter to spring this weekend.
    Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 Oct. 2025
  • Under Wood, Sacramento State has made their intentions clear to elevate their football program from the second-tier FCS to top-tier FBS.
    Chris Biderman, Sacbee.com, 2 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • The 10 counts of assault with intent to murder Ricklefs is charged with are up to a lifelong felony sentence, according to the news release.
    Natalie Davies, Freep.com, 1 Oct. 2025
  • Raven is part of an artistic generation intent on reading the landscape as a text, rather than as a muted slate.
    Anne Reeve, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Across a little over nine years in English football, Guardiola has learned from a different culture and adapted his own ideas to keep pace with changing times.
    Jordan Campbell, New York Times, 6 Oct. 2025
  • That idea also died against business and political opposition.
    Jim Riccioli, jsonline.com, 6 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Security footage from the bar showed Wallen throw an object over the roof, according to his arrest affidavit.
    Kirsten Fiscus, Nashville Tennessean, 6 Oct. 2025
  • Keep a distance from water, wet articles, and metal objects.
    CA Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 4 Oct. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Goal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/goal. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on goal

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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