PLAN Synonyms: 130 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

plan 1 of 2

noun

ˈplan

Definition of plan next

as in strategy

a method worked out in advance for achieving some objective there is a contingency plan in the office for handling almost any emergency

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

as in goal

something that one hopes or intends to accomplish our plan is to finish up by next Friday

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

plan

2 of 2

verb

as in to prepare

to work out the details of (something) in advance we planned the school dance down to the smallest detail

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in to intend

to have in mind as a purpose or goal I plan to have a party for my birthday, even if I have to throw it myself

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

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Recent Examples of plan

Noun

The shooting in Miami Beach comes amid heightened tensions as Arab countries attempt to come up with a post-war plan for Gaza, following a tenuous ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas. —

Chelsea Bailey, CNN, 17 Feb. 2025 Adams and Homan appeared together on Fox & Friends last Friday to discuss their plans to collaborate on immigration enforcement. —

Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 17 Feb. 2025

Verb

One of the last shows featured in the Getty Foundation’s PST ART initiative, the exhibition was planned long before the last wildfires, but the impact, and role of fires in the region have been on the mind for the show’s collective of curators for a long time. —

The Editors Of Artnews, ARTnews.com, 18 Feb. 2025 In 2021, Tesla incorporated an affiliate — Tesla India Motors and Energy — but plans to sell its electric vehicles in India were put on hold a year later. —

William Gavin, Quartz, 18 Feb. 2025 See all Example Sentences for plan

Recent Examples of Synonyms for plan

Noun

Each issue is filled with breaking news, deep insights, and exclusive strategies for becoming a better traveler.

— Christopher Elliott, USA TODAY, 7 Feb. 2025
There’s one person that understands game moves and understands strategy.

— Dalton Ross, EW.com, 7 Feb. 2025