INTENTION Synonyms: 85 Similar and Opposite Words

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

Some common synonyms of intention are aim , design , end , goal , intent , objective , object , and purpose . While all these words mean "what one intends to accomplish or attain," intention implies little more than what one has in mind to do or bring about. // announced his intention to marry

Q: When is 'aim' a more appropriate choice than 'intention'?

The synonyms aim and intention are sometimes interchangeable, but aim adds to these implications of effort directed toward attaining or accomplishing. // her aim was to raise film to an art form

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

The words design and intention are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, design implies a more carefully calculated plan. // the order of events came by accident, not design

Q: Where would 'end' be a reasonable alternative to 'intention'?

Although the words end and intention have much in common, end stresses the intended effect of action often in distinction or contrast to the action or means as such. // willing to use any means to achieve his end

Q: When would 'goal' be a good substitute for 'intention'?

In some situations, the words goal and intention are roughly equivalent. However, goal suggests something attained only by prolonged effort and hardship. // worked years to reach her goals

Q: When is it sensible to use 'intent' instead of 'intention'?

While in some cases nearly identical to intention , intent suggests clearer formulation or greater deliberateness. // the clear intent of the statute

Q: How are the words 'object' and 'end' related as synonyms of 'intention'?

Object may equal end but more often applies to a more individually determined wish or need. // his constant object was the achievement of pleasure

Q: In what contexts can 'objective' take the place of 'intention'?

The words objective and intention can be used in similar contexts, but objective implies something tangible and immediately attainable. // their objective is to seize the oil fields

Q: When might 'purpose' be a better fit than 'intention'?

While the synonyms purpose and intention are close in meaning, purpose suggests a more settled determination. // being successful was her purpose in life

intention

noun

in-ˈten(t)-shən

Definition of intention

as in purpose

something that one hopes or intends to accomplish her intention is to climb the highest peak in each of the 50 states

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in intent

the idea that is conveyed or intended to be conveyed to the mind by language, symbol, or action she was uncertain of the intention of his frantic gesturing

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun intention contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of intention are aim, design, end, goal, intent, objective, object, and purpose. While all these words mean "what one intends to accomplish or attain," intention implies little more than what one has in mind to do or bring about.

announced his intention to marry

When is aim a more appropriate choice than intention?

The synonyms aim and intention are sometimes interchangeable, but aim adds to these implications of effort directed toward attaining or accomplishing.

her aim was to raise film to an art form

When can design be used instead of intention?

The words design and intention are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, design implies a more carefully calculated plan.

the order of events came by accident, not design

Where would end be a reasonable alternative to intention?

Although the words end and intention have much in common, end stresses the intended effect of action often in distinction or contrast to the action or means as such.

willing to use any means to achieve his end

When would goal be a good substitute for intention?

In some situations, the words goal and intention are roughly equivalent. However, goal suggests something attained only by prolonged effort and hardship.

worked years to reach her goals

When is it sensible to use intent instead of intention?

While in some cases nearly identical to intention, intent suggests clearer formulation or greater deliberateness.

the clear intent of the statute

How are the words object and end related as synonyms of intention?

Object may equal end but more often applies to a more individually determined wish or need.

his constant object was the achievement of pleasure

In what contexts can objective take the place of intention?

The words objective and intention can be used in similar contexts, but objective implies something tangible and immediately attainable.

their objective is to seize the oil fields

When might purpose be a better fit than intention?

While the synonyms purpose and intention are close in meaning, purpose suggests a more settled determination.

being successful was her purpose in life

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 intention Rubio, however, bristles at any discussion of his political intentions. — ABC News, 18 Oct. 2026 But Wilson already has fully bought into the tenacity and intention necessary to get the most out of his first NBA season. — Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 17 Oct. 2026 Incoming Premier Paul St-Pierre Plamondon has already stated his intention to hold a referendum on Quebec independence. — Callum Sutherland, Time, 16 Oct. 2026 At the time, leader Kim Jong un highlighted the need to equip the navy with nuclear weapons, underlining Pyongyang’s intention to strengthen its maritime deterrence capabilities. — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 16 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for intention

Recent Examples of Synonyms for intention

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

During his first two years as the Lakers coach, Redick admired Williams’ intent on the defensive end from afar and commended the forward’s willingness to defend other teams’ star players.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 2026
The intent of the Praia Collection is to attract more international travelers.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of intent

Noun

The Biden administration built it back and set a goal of admitting 125,000 refugees during the final year of his term.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 15 Oct. 2026
The company currently takes about a day to build a robot, with the goal of reducing the process to approximately one hour next year.

— Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of goal

Noun

Investors should also look at a fund's 30-day SEC yield to get a sense of what the company is generating in terms of income.

— Cheryl Winokur Munk, CNBC, 18 Oct. 2026
Government buildings were vandalized in multiple cities, contributing to a sense of national crisis that could boost leading far-right presidential candidate Marine Le Pen six months before elections.

— Brendan Ruberry, semafor.com, 18 Oct. 2026

Definition of sense

Noun

Moscow has been widely accused by Western officials of running a campaign of sabotage and disruption, including with the use of drones, with the aim of undermining support for Ukraine and destabilizing European nations.

— ABC News, ABC News, 18 Oct. 2026
Basis trades are an arbitrage bet in which hedge funds are positioned long in cash Treasurys while shorting their corresponding futures contracts, with the aim of profiting from the price gap.

— Hugh Leask, CNBC, 18 Oct. 2026

Definition of aim

Noun

First was comic and content creator, George Brett Olson, who did a breakdown (watch it below) accusing an AI Instagram account with 300,000 followers of seemingly ripped off his joke word for word.

— James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 16 Oct. 2026
SparkHub connects creator content to tracked sales inside its ShopBack app.

— Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of content

Browse Nearby Words

intent

intention

intentional

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Intention.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/intention. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of intention

noun

Synonym Chooser

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on intention

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

compunction

Popular in Grammar & Usage

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

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

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

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

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Popular in Wordplay

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

Did 'orange' the fruit or the color come first?

Popular

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

Games & Quizzes