as in cunning
clever at attaining one's ends by indirect and often deceptive means
a fraudulent scheme contrived by a group of greedy and designing people
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in planning
to have in mind as a purpose or goal
early on she had designed to a top position in a major insurance company
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in preparing
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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of designing
Jim Cramer, CNBC, 9 Apr. 2026
That means brands funding cooling infrastructure, working with workers and unions to establish robust heat-stress protections and co-designing transition plans with workers from the outset.
—Jasmin Malik Chua, Sourcing Journal, 5 Dec. 2025
That means giving up or sharing power and privilege and doing the hard work of listening and co-designing solutions with the marginalized groups.
—Setche Kwamu-Nana, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Nov. 2020
In the 1960s, the computing pioneer Grace Murray Hopper would hand out 11.8-inch lengths of wire to illustrate how designing smaller electronic parts would create faster computers.
—John Markoff, New York Times, 29 June 2018
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 25 Apr. 2026
In a way, Tim Cook's superpower was always taking the innovation in Cupertino and orchestrating the external forces to bring it to life, through perfecting the supply chain and designing supplier relationships as chief operating officer, and eventually practicing international diplomacy as CEO.
—Kai Nicol-Schwarz, CNBC, 24 Apr. 2026
Purdue’s attorneys said in court that the company played no role in designing the claims process.
—Craig R. McCoy, CNN Money, 24 Apr. 2026
In one case, a Los Angeles jury found that Meta and YouTube were negligent for designing addictive features that harmed the mental health of a California woman.
—Los Angeles Times, 23 Apr. 2026
Graham, a supermodel and pioneer for plus-size women in the fashion industry, and her UTA agent Natasha Bolouki spoke to Jennifer Maas, Variety’s senior business writer, TV and video games, about Graham’s work in designing apparel lines with retailer JC Penney.
—Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 23 Apr. 2026
Meta is facing several lawsuits accusing it of designing addictive experiences; CEO Mark Zuckerberg recently testified in one of them.
—Jibin Joseph, PC Magazine, 23 Apr. 2026
Christine Lenches-Hinkel, a local scientist and founder of 301 Organics, spent years designing the Rose Bowl Stadium's composting program.
—Kara Finnstrom, CBS News, 23 Apr. 2026
The event was the inaugural Miami finale of the Green Heart STEM Challenge, a national program of the Captain Planet Foundation that tasks students in grades six through nine with identifying environmental issues in their communities and designing practical, implementable solutions.
—Ethan Stone, Miami Herald, 11 Apr. 2026
Adjective
Marvell’s business co-designing custom AI chips is usually what gets the most attention.
—Jim Cramer, CNBC, 9 Apr. 2026
That means brands funding cooling infrastructure, working with workers and unions to establish robust heat-stress protections and co-designing transition plans with workers from the outset.
—Jasmin Malik Chua, Sourcing Journal, 5 Dec. 2025
That means giving up or sharing power and privilege and doing the hard work of listening and co-designing solutions with the marginalized groups.
—Setche Kwamu-Nana, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Nov. 2020
In the 1960s, the computing pioneer Grace Murray Hopper would hand out 11.8-inch lengths of wire to illustrate how designing smaller electronic parts would create faster computers.
—John Markoff, New York Times, 29 June 2018
Verb
In early March, engineers from the Armaments Center began designing, explosive pressing, housing manufacturing and integrating the warhead to be used on a low-cost and expendable one-way attack drone.
—Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 25 Apr. 2026
In a way, Tim Cook's superpower was always taking the innovation in Cupertino and orchestrating the external forces to bring it to life, through perfecting the supply chain and designing supplier relationships as chief operating officer, and eventually practicing international diplomacy as CEO.
—Kai Nicol-Schwarz, CNBC, 24 Apr. 2026
Purdue’s attorneys said in court that the company played no role in designing the claims process.
—Craig R. McCoy, CNN Money, 24 Apr. 2026
In one case, a Los Angeles jury found that Meta and YouTube were negligent for designing addictive features that harmed the mental health of a California woman.
—Los Angeles Times, 23 Apr. 2026
Graham, a supermodel and pioneer for plus-size women in the fashion industry, and her UTA agent Natasha Bolouki spoke to Jennifer Maas, Variety’s senior business writer, TV and video games, about Graham’s work in designing apparel lines with retailer JC Penney.
—Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 23 Apr. 2026
Meta is facing several lawsuits accusing it of designing addictive experiences; CEO Mark Zuckerberg recently testified in one of them.
—Jibin Joseph, PC Magazine, 23 Apr. 2026
Christine Lenches-Hinkel, a local scientist and founder of 301 Organics, spent years designing the Rose Bowl Stadium's composting program.
—Kara Finnstrom, CBS News, 23 Apr. 2026
The event was the inaugural Miami finale of the Green Heart STEM Challenge, a national program of the Captain Planet Foundation that tasks students in grades six through nine with identifying environmental issues in their communities and designing practical, implementable solutions.
—Ethan Stone, Miami Herald, 11 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for designing
Adjective
-
As Michael moves into solo stardom and makes cunning business moves, the film captures how his seemingly naive idealism was also a form of ambition.—
Spencer Kornhaber,
The Atlantic,
24 Apr. 2026
-
Past friends and former associates described him to me as an exceptionally cunning con man, a consummate charmer, and a womanizer.—
Nate Freeman,
Vanity Fair,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
An hour before Hitchcock's execution, Texas is planning to put James Broadnax to death for the 2008 double murder of two Christian music producers in the Dallas suburb of Garland.—
Amanda Lee Myers,
USA Today,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Countries across the Gulf have arrested scores of people during the war, on charges ranging from posting images of wartime damage, to planning terrorist attacks with Iran.—
Dominic Dudley,
semafor.com,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The two were caught on camera by fellow passengers who were filming while the plane was on the runway preparing for takeoff.—
Sean Joseph OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
27 Apr. 2026
-
The British Embassy in Washington, DC, posted a video on social media on April 27 giving people a behind-the-scenes look at what goes into preparing afternoon tea for 650 people.—
Gabe Hauari,
USA Today,
27 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Patagonian Scallops Tiny baby button scallops, so cute.—
Alex Beggs,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
25 Apr. 2026
-
Someone says the rats are actually cute — what’s your honest response?—
Zach Schiffman,
Curbed,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Police believe Lewis killed King intending to steal his Hyundai Sonata.—
Emerson Clarridge,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
24 Apr. 2026
-
The Essay The op-ed itself is a short essay intending to inform the public about an issue and to indicate some means for its resolution.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Parents are also organizing a bake sale at the event, and a direct donation campaign is underway.—
Amy Stark Shireman,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
30 Apr. 2026
-
During Barack Obama’s presidency, conservative funders invested in grassroots organizing to beat the left’s turnout and persuasion machines.—
David Weigel,
semafor.com,
29 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Brenden Aaronson could not finish a slick Leeds counter, denied by the outstretched boot of Robert Sanchez in the Chelsea goal.—
Beren Cross,
New York Times,
26 Apr. 2026
-
Pretty slick defensive play by the 2025 AL Platinum Glove recipient.—
Jaylon Thompson,
Kansas City Star,
26 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Clerk-Treasurer Corinne Peffers was also authorized to contact the Barnes & Thornburg law firm as counsel in arranging for a general obligation bond to finance the purchase.—
Jim Woods,
Chicago Tribune,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Grab a wide and shallow bowl, place a floral frog inside, and start arranging the tulip stems in an organic way.—
Maria Sabella,
Better Homes & Gardens,
29 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Designing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/designing. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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