Definition of methodnext

Synonym Chooser

How is the word method different from other nouns like it?

Some common synonyms of method are fashion, manner, mode, system, and way. While all these words mean "the means taken or procedure followed in achieving an end," method implies an orderly logical arrangement usually in steps.

effective teaching methods

Where would fashion be a reasonable alternative to method?

The words fashion and method are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, fashion may suggest a peculiar or characteristic way of doing something.

rushing about in his typical fashion

How do manner and mode relate to one another, in the sense of method?

Manner is close to mode but may imply a procedure or method that is individual or distinctive.

an odd manner of conducting

In what contexts can mode take the place of method?

Although the words mode and method have much in common, mode implies an order or course followed by custom, tradition, or personal preference.

the preferred mode of transportation

When can system be used instead of method?

While the synonyms system and method are close in meaning, system suggests a fully developed or carefully formulated method often emphasizing rational orderliness.

a filing system

When might way be a better fit than method?

The words way and method can be used in similar contexts, but way is very general and may be used for any of the preceding words.

has her own way of doing things

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 method In these domains, teleoperation and UMI methods remain essential. Ni Tao, Interesting Engineering, 20 Apr. 2026 Chekhov’s wrote The Cherry Orchard in 1903, but Pullman thought of employing 21st century AI methods to interrogate the text further and to check whether his analysis of the sibling’s relationship turned up. Baz Bamigboye, Deadline, 20 Apr. 2026 This last method is one Faust often employs. Stacey Lastoe, Southern Living, 20 Apr. 2026 The exchange between Amazon and Levi Strauss was cited as one of three methods the online retailer has used to fix and raise prices. Los Angeles Times, 20 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for method
Recent Examples of Synonyms for method
Noun
  • The heightened approach comes as UC Davis prepares to host its 112th Picnic Day, featuring more than 200 activities on campus.
    Madisen Keavy, CBS News, 18 Apr. 2026
  • This approach keeps you comfortable while maintaining a polished, cohesive look.
    Gabrielle Porcaro, Travel + Leisure, 18 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • The mandolin quartet was developed, mixing treble and bass versions of the instrument, and the technique of the tremolo was taken to new heights of sophistication.
    Tim Parks, New Yorker, 11 Apr. 2026
  • Its techniques are still breathtaking today, richer and more substantial than any images that came before and many that followed.
    Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 11 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Everything down to gear strategy had to account for the physical toll that seven marathons would inevitably have on her body.
    Tereza Shkurtaj, PEOPLE, 18 Apr. 2026
  • The strategy spreads tourism spending across neighborhoods instead of concentrating it near match venues.
    Amalia Roy, FOXNews.com, 17 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • The city’s methodology for valuing co-ops and condos is currently under judicial review in pending litigation, underscoring how unsettled these issues remain.
    Martha E. Stark, New York Daily News, 21 Apr. 2026
  • For more on what's involved in our reporting, check out our complete reviews process and methodology page.
    Jennifer Hussein, Allure, 21 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Try a playful pitch, then explain the core of it in a way someone else can follow.
    Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 18 Apr. 2026
  • The crew flew around the far side of the moon and, on their way home, saw a solar eclipse from space.
    Paloma Chavez, PEOPLE, 18 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Yet something about his manner seems to put people at ease.
    Kelefa Sanneh, New Yorker, 20 Apr. 2026
  • Coward was a steak-and-kidney pie kind of fellow, and the characters in his plays obsessed over their manners, their tableware and their tea.
    Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 20 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Method.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/method. Accessed 22 Apr. 2026.

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