Definition of projectnext

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun project contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of project are design, plan, plot, and scheme. While all these words mean "a method devised for making or doing something or achieving an end," project often stresses imaginative scope and vision.

a project to develop the waterfront

When would design be a good substitute for project?

Although the words design and project have much in common, design often suggests a particular pattern and some degree of achieved order or harmony.

a design for a new dress

In what contexts can plan take the place of project?

The synonyms plan and project are sometimes interchangeable, but plan always implies mental formulation and sometimes graphic representation.

plans for a house

When is plot a more appropriate choice than project?

The words plot and project are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, plot implies a laying out in clearly distinguished sections with attention to their relations and proportions.

the plot of the play

When might scheme be a better fit than project?

In some situations, the words scheme and project are roughly equivalent. However, 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 project
Noun
Critics have raised concerns about the project's cost and its effect on businesses and the existing trail. Cbs News Atlanta Digital Team, CBS News, 8 Sep. 2026 Sources close to Apple's foldable project claim the iPhone Ultra will solve issues that other rivals struggle with, including that pesky crease in the middle of the display. Kimberly Gedeon, PC Magazine, 8 Sep. 2026
Verb
The average survey respondent projects a significant boost in productivity and economic growth but also a substantial disruption to workers in AI-sensitive fields. Scott Horsley, NPR, 9 Sep. 2026 The design keeps the focus on expeditions and wildlife, from art to screens projecting videos of Antarctica or the Arctic in all their pristine glory. Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for project
Recent Examples of Synonyms for project
Noun
  • Depending on your situation, a debt management plan, debt consolidation or simply negotiating directly with creditors may be a better option.
    Becca Stanek, TheWeek, 7 Sep. 2026
  • Their plan to find a long-term answer at QB appears centered on the 2027 draft, which is expected to feature a more talented class with the likes of Arch Manning, Dante Moore, Julian Sayin and CJ Carr.
    Antwan Staley, New York Daily News, 6 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Anything that protrudes above the shallow, insulating snow cover is more prone to being damaged by the cold and wind or eaten by wildlife, said plant ecologist Anne Bjorkman of the University of Gothenburg in Sweden.
    ABC News, ABC News, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Other animals on-site include a stable full of horses and Cowboy the tortoise, who is about the size of a lawnmower and whose head protrudes from what looks like a Venus flytrap made of bone.
    Emma Madden, Los Angeles Times, 21 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • The House will vote on a bipartisan bill on Tuesday designed to get tech companies to pay for the infrastructure and energy required to construct data centers.
    Lauren Green, The Washington Examiner, 12 Sep. 2026
  • The company says its organic chemistry is designed to replace scarce and corrosive materials used in some flow battery systems.
    Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 12 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • The genes serve as blueprints for making proteins that drive brain development, but researchers lacked visibility into how those proteins do the work.
    Pien Huang, NPR, 4 Sep. 2026
  • Four reactors, one blueprint The choice of four units is central to the plan.
    Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 3 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Traditionally, there’s this rendering of hell as a dark cave with fire, and there’s the devil with a pitchfork poking everybody with it.
    Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 9 Sep. 2026
  • With the help of Nollet, Anderson’s hair was blown and teased away from her forehead, with tinges of pink poking through.
    Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 9 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • The facility will subsequently support the F135 fleet throughout the F-35’s service life in Finland, with Patria preparing to adapt the production line for Maintenance, Repair, Overhaul and Upgrade (MRO&U) activities.
    Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 5 Sep. 2026
  • At the team’s early-morning practices, many players flip between offense and defense to prepare for any situation, especially when there are even a few injuries.
    Jesse Dougherty, New Yorker, 5 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • Gabby Giffords herself is another key part of the campaign strategy.
    Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 10 Sep. 2026
  • His intelligence and technical ability were a perfect match for Bielsa’s high-risk, high-line strategy.
    Amitai Winehouse, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • His dribbling and pace on the wing stood out during Ivory Coast’s run to the knockout phase.
    David Ornstein, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2026
  • Its stand out feature, Dual Mode, gives you two options to play with.
    George Yang, PC Magazine, 6 Sep. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Project.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/project. Accessed 13 Sep. 2026.

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