plan 1 of 2

plan

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verb

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun plan contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of plan are design, plot, project, and scheme. While all these words mean "a method devised for making or doing something or achieving an end," plan always implies mental formulation and sometimes graphic representation.

plans for a house

When is design a more appropriate choice than plan?

While in some cases nearly identical to plan, design often suggests a particular pattern and some degree of achieved order or harmony.

a design for a new dress

When could plot be used to replace plan?

While the synonyms plot and plan are close in meaning, plot implies a laying out in clearly distinguished sections with attention to their relations and proportions.

the plot of the play

When is it sensible to use project instead of plan?

In some situations, the words project and plan are roughly equivalent. However, project often stresses imaginative scope and vision.

a project to develop the waterfront

Where would scheme be a reasonable alternative to plan?

The synonyms scheme and plan are sometimes interchangeable, but scheme stresses calculation of the end in view and may apply to a plan motivated by craftiness and self-interest.

a scheme to defraud the government

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 plan
Noun
Managers were taught to plan — but in a world defined by constant change, plans change. Nirit Cohen, Forbes.com, 29 June 2025 Streetscape improvements are part of an $8.5 million plan by the state to redesign the Main Street and Albany Avenue intersection. Kenneth R. Gosselin, Hartford Courant, 29 June 2025
Verb
Less than a decade later, Blue Cross and Blue Shield plans in more than dozen other states had converted to for-profits, typically highly controversial proposals, given questions about what was to become of their billions of dollars of assets. Laurence Darmiento, Los Angeles Times, 30 June 2025 At the time, the app was only streaming sports trading card sellers but was planning to expand. Gili Malinsky, CNBC, 30 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for plan
Recent Examples of Synonyms for plan
Noun
  • Brands must treat identity security as a central pillar of their enterprise strategy, not just a compliance requirement.
    Bojan Šimić, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025
  • Their creative vision and cultural insight align seamlessly with our global strategy.
    Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 1 July 2025
Noun
  • After being shut out in the group stage opener, Man City's superstar Erling Haaland has caught fire, scoring a goal in each of their past two matches.
    Ben Verbrugge, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 July 2025
  • In 2023, lawmakers said the goal of the measure was to increase transparency.
    Carole Carlson, Chicago Tribune, 30 June 2025
Verb
  • This area is fairly rugged, so be prepared for a hike and wear appropriate clothing and shoes.
    Lisa Cericola, Southern Living, 22 June 2025
  • As those efforts continued, the Pentagon simultaneously prepared the operation.
    Rachel Scott, ABC News, 22 June 2025
Verb
  • Basically, the administration intends to fix the budget shortfall by using a soft-hand approach with hiring, personnel and operational matters.
    Terina Allen, Forbes.com, 28 June 2025
  • Striped Button-downs Nautical stripes have been making major waves this summer (no pun intended), especially in the form of a breezy button-down top.
    Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 28 June 2025
Noun
  • Rihanna’s business empire follows the same blueprint Baker pioneered, using stardom to control an entire industry.
    Sonari Glinton, Forbes.com, 24 June 2025
  • But even with Durant’s resurgence as a blueprint, the expectation is caution.
    Kristian Winfield, Hartford Courant, 23 June 2025
Noun
  • Ibogaine is a psychoactive compound from the root bark of a West African shrub and has been used by Indigenous people for medical and spiritual purposes for hundreds of years.
    Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 26 June 2025
  • That facility, whose purpose remains unclear, appears to be intact.
    Geoff Brumfiel, NPR, 26 June 2025
Verb
  • Bottom sea mines are placed on the seabed and designed to detonate when a ship passes nearby.
    Amira El-Fekki‎, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 June 2025
  • Is the packaging consciously designed or needlessly wasteful?
    Angela Trakoshis, Allure, 23 June 2025
Verb
  • Yet Trump, whose administration had entered into talks with Iran aimed at reaching an agreement on the country's nuclear program, has backed the Israeli offensive and has openly contemplated joining the Israeli campaign through strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities.
    Tom O'Connor, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 June 2025
  • Then again, living in New York City, there aren't many opportunities to contemplate camel textures.
    Matt Dutile, Travel + Leisure, 21 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Plan.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/plan. Accessed 5 Jul. 2025.

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