INTENTS Synonyms: 87 Similar and Opposite Words

intents

noun

plural of intent

as in purposes

something that one hopes or intends to accomplish I'm sorry that I hurt your feelings; that wasn't my intent

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in senses

the idea that is conveyed or intended to be conveyed to the mind by language, symbol, or action the wording was a little unclear, but I think I grasped the intent

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 intents Nearly every customer relationship, operational workflow, escalation path and commercial outcome emerges from one of these two conversational intents. — Naresh Prajapati, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026 For all intents and purposes, an unknown actor can wade unburdened into the depths of Bond, able to transform without a viewer’s prior expectation tainting the image of 007. — Emily Maskell, IndieWire, 10 July 2026 Dadiet, for all intents and purposes, is entering a contract year. — Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 9 July 2026 Legislation with similar intents passed one legislative chamber in both Colorado and Oregon this year, but neither made it to law. — Geoff Mulvihill, Los Angeles Times, 3 July 2026 For all intents and purposes, this is a team that should not exist. — Arminka Helic, Time, 30 June 2026 Reid, for all intents and purposes, casts the fictional league’s commissioner as the rightful big bad villain of Shane and Ilya’s story. — Nicole Fell, HollywoodReporter, 17 June 2026 Welcome to the start of the 2026 offseason for all intents and purposes, when chatter begins at a murmur before blossoming into a crescendo. — Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 12 June 2026 The contest, for all intents, would have ended then and there, save for months of airy speculation on which Democrat or Republican would make the November runoff en route to eventual defeat. — Mark Barabak, Mercury News, 13 May 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for intents

Noun

Instead, the Children's Trust was used and abused by the Kittrells for exclusively their own purposes and in fact the Kittrells treat the trust assets for nearly all purposes as their own.

— Jay Adkisson, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026
Cost basis is the property's value for tax purposes — the starting point used to calculate a taxable gain or loss when the property is sold.

— Sharon Epperson,Stephanie Dhue, CNBC, 6 Aug. 2026

Definition of purposes

Noun

This treatment is part of a series of evening spa experiences Rosewood Mayakoba puts on, all designed to soothe the senses and promote better sleep.

— Rana Good, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Aug. 2026
Visitors to these landscapes are encouraged to slow down, engage their senses and temporarily step away from the constant demands of work and technology.

— Todd Lookingbill, The Conversation, 31 July 2026

Definition of senses

Noun

If goals diverge, name the common aim, then suggest a simple route that honors both needs, and your upbeat spirit will make consensus easier.

— Tarot.com, Chicago Tribune, 7 Aug. 2026
The Frenchman scored more league goals than any other Liverpool player last season, but that was largely with Isak on the sidelines.

— Graham Ruthven, New York Times, 7 Aug. 2026

Definition of goals

Noun

Keane, a former four-star general, argued that their involvement may have contributed to Washington misunderstanding Iran’s intentions.

— Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 6 Aug. 2026
Digital streaks, from nightly games to professional habits, often hijack our intentions, turning recreational activities into obligations that cost us real rest.

— Nell Derick Debevoise Dewey, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2026

Definition of intentions

Noun

Some don't seem tied to the obvious icon meanings to me, such as a paintbrush for adding photos to the active composer, or a party popper shooting confetti as the icon for opening a side chat.

— Brian Westover, PC Magazine, 3 Aug. 2026
The poem is rife with open meanings; however, its principal question is important for anyone who has felt slighted or discouraged from conducting their lives with reverie.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 27 July 2026

Definition of meanings

Noun

The new measure was passed on Thursday, but the contents of the law were not made public until late Sunday.

— ABC News, ABC News, 3 Aug. 2026
Major news organizations, unimpressed by the contents and aware of the successful Russian hack-and-leak in 2016, all passed on the dossier.

— David D. Kirkpatrick, New Yorker, 3 Aug. 2026

Definition of contents

Browse Nearby Words

intentness

intents

inter

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Intents.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/intents. Accessed 8 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of intents

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on intents

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

nurture

Popular in Grammar & Usage

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

'Sneaked' or 'Snuck': Which is correct?

Why does English have so many silent letters?

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Aug. 7

How long is a jiffy?

Popular

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

Games & Quizzes