DESIGN Synonyms: 167 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the noun 'design' contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of design are plan , plot , project , and scheme . While all these words mean "a method devised for making or doing something or achieving an end," design often suggests a particular pattern and some degree of achieved order or harmony. // a design for a new dress

Q: When can 'plan' be used instead of 'design'?

The words plan and design are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, plan always implies mental formulation and sometimes graphic representation. // plans for a house

Q: When would 'plot' be a good substitute for 'design'?

The synonyms plot and design are sometimes interchangeable, but plot implies a laying out in clearly distinguished sections with attention to their relations and proportions. // the plot of the play

Q: When is 'project' a more appropriate choice than 'design'?

The words project and design can be used in similar contexts, but project often stresses imaginative scope and vision. // a project to develop the waterfront

Q: Where would 'scheme' be a reasonable alternative to 'design'?

Although the words scheme and design have much in common, 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

design 1 of 2

noun

Definition of design

as in plan

a method worked out in advance for achieving some objective she always achieves her objective by design rather than by luck

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

as in scheme

a secret plan for accomplishing evil or unlawful ends the thief had devised an elaborate design to get the invaluable artwork

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in purpose

something that one hopes or intends to accomplish my design in writing to you is to ask for your support

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in motif

a unit of decoration that is repeated all over something (as a fabric) the curtains have a lovely floral design

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in layout

the way in which the elements of something (as a work of art) are arranged the design of the building's lobby encourages the free flow of traffic

Synonyms & Similar Words

design

2 of 2

verb

di-ˈzīn

as in to plan

to have in mind as a purpose or goal early on she had designed to a top position in a major insurance company

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as in to prepare

to work out the details of (something) in advance the foreman designed a better layout for the factory floor to improve efficiency

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun design contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of design are plan, plot, project, and scheme. While all these words mean "a method devised for making or doing something or achieving an end," design often suggests a particular pattern and some degree of achieved order or harmony.

a design for a new dress

When can plan be used instead of design?

The words plan and design are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, plan always implies mental formulation and sometimes graphic representation.

plans for a house

When would plot be a good substitute for design?

The synonyms plot and design are sometimes interchangeable, but plot implies a laying out in clearly distinguished sections with attention to their relations and proportions.

the plot of the play

When is project a more appropriate choice than design?

The words project and design can be used in similar contexts, but project often stresses imaginative scope and vision.

a project to develop the waterfront

Where would scheme be a reasonable alternative to design?

Although the words scheme and design have much in common, 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 design

Noun

The handbag would go on to become one of Fendi’s most celebrated designs. — Ryma Chikhoune, Footwear News, 16 Oct. 2026 Storyteller experiments with some next-generation convertible furniture designs to make the new van even more versatile and better equipped for loading up gear. — New Atlas, 15 Oct. 2026

Verb

That means designing systems so algorithms, certificates and policies can be changed without major application redesign. — Scott Alldridge, Forbes.com, 16 Oct. 2026 During Milan Design Week 2026, the fitness equipment brand celebrated 40 years of Unica, the compact home gym designed by founder, chairman and chief executive officer Nerio Alessandri. — Andrea Onate, Footwear News, 16 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for design

Recent Examples of Synonyms for design

Noun

The new plans also include more changes to the project's lighting and traffic patterns.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 18 Oct. 2026
Guardians manager Stephen Vogt could change plans and go with Foster Griffin on Saturday.

— Joe Reedy, Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of plan

Noun

Combined with its co-founders' pledge to donate 80% of their equity and an employee donation matching program, roughly 20% of Anthropic's shares will be dedicated to public purposes, excluding any additional shares added later.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 20 Oct. 2026
Future deployments Placing the geothermal plant on top of a natural hydrothermal vent was a one-time test for purely research and demonstration purposes, Redd said.

— Jeremy Hsu, ArsTechnica, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of purpose

Noun

Each section of the crest pays tribute to the club, the city of Barcelona and the region of Catalonia, through motifs that include the Saint George’s Cross, the Senyera (the Catalan flag) and a vintage-style soccer ball.

— Jean E. Palmieri, Footwear News, 19 Oct. 2026
The same questions and ideas and motifs haunt you for the rest of your life.

— Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of motif

Verb

Project Nessie was intended to stop retail price-matching practices from creating unsustainably low prices, the e-commerce giant said.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 19 Oct. 2026
According to people familiar with discussions about the policy, Bennett’s prior objections were a message intended for his domestic political constituency.

— Eric Cortellessa, Time, 18 Oct. 2026

Definition of intend

Verb

Commercial incentives persist Koh said shipping companies around the world have continued looking for opportunities to navigate the Strait since the conflict erupted, with some operators prepared to accept higher risks and costs.

— Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 16 Oct. 2026
The creative team is currently developing the treatment and preparing to engage potential partners about the longer version.

— Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of prepare

Noun

People with the second phenotype, called durable, might have grown up in a predictable world—for example, a strict religious sect or just a family that experienced little change—and developed only certain coping strategies as a result.

— Maia Szalavitz, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026
Ren Faire, a 2024 docuseries Oppenheim shot for HBO about the succession crisis at the Texas Renaissance Festival, marked the apotheosis of this strategy.

— Alex Barasch, Vulture, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of strategy

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desideratum

design

designate

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Style

“Design.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/design. Accessed 22 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of design

noun

verb

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