We must devise some means of escape.
Source: tatoeba (25054)
Devise
/dɪˈvaɪz/
Synonyms for "devise" (361 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (73)
Verb(17 words)
Noun(20 words)
architectarchitectsbe originalbehavior policy designbequeathingbrewbrewingcodebook designcommunity organizing plancomplotcompose a planconceitsconceivingconceptual processconcoctingconstruct a graphconstruct based taskconstruct piecesconstructed exampleconstructed from
Adjective(2 words)
basic designcivil progress plan
Strong matches (108)
Noun(51 words)
constructscontrivancecontrive a storycontrivingcookcookscraftcraft a modelcraft artcraft disciplinescraft outcomecraft plancraft producedcraft projectcraft techniquecraftingcraftscreate a numbered listcreatingdesign a chart
Show 31 more words
design a lessondesign a modeldesign a prototypedesign algorithmsdesign an experimentdesign descriptordesign educationdesign experimentdesign language plandesign modeldesign model frameworkdesign pasture systemsdesign place value contentdesign problemdesign release stagedesign stagedesign termdesign traitdesigned for learningdesignsdeveloped language skillsdevisingdistrict conduct proceduredreamsdynamic programming algorithmizingelaborate instructionsengineered change outcomeengineersform basedformula formformulating question
Adjective(4 words)
Verb(22 words)
contrivescraft a lessoncraftedcreatedesigndeveloping skillengineer a prototypeengineeredenvisagesenvisionedestablish a theoryevolvedexcogitateextemporizefabricatefigure out a planforgeformulate methodformulatedformulates
Show 2 more words
Related words (180)
getget upgivegive being togive rise tohand downhand onhatchhatch upimagineimproviseinditeinheritanceintendintrigueinventlay plansleavelegacylegate
Show 67 more words
machinatemakemake a bequestmake a projectionmake a willmake arrangementsmake domake do withmake upmanoeuvremanufacturemastermindmaturemeditatemethodizemintmoldmouldmouldermouldyorganizeoriginatepass onpatch togetherpiece togetherplanplan aheadplotprearrangeprefabricateprepareprobateprocreateproduceprogramprojectput togetherput upraiserationalizerearrun upscheduleschematizeschemeset upshapespawnspinstagestrikestrike outsystematizetestamentthinkthink outthink uptransfertransmitvamp upwhomp upwillwill and bequeathwill towork outwork upwrite
Verb(37 words)
get uphammeredhatchedimagineinnovateinnovatesinventedinventsmachinatemake a planmastermindedmethodorchestrateorchestratedorganiseorganizeoriginalizeoriginatesplanplan lessons
Show 17 more words
plannedplottedpremeditateprepareproduce a planrigromanian imagineschemeschemedstrategizestrategize with stakeholdersstrategizedstrategizesthinkthinkswhiskedwilled
Noun(50 words)
handcrafted originhatcheshatchinghatching processimagined settinginvent a gameinvent locallyinventinglearning planleavingmaster plan creationmastermindmastermindsmore revolutionarily designedmost deliberatemost planning departmentoriginal workplain designsplan saboteurplanning
Show 30 more words
planning curriculumplanning failureplanning map featureplanning process templatesplanning relatedplanning sampleplanning toolsplansplot eventsplotsplottingprimary grade bilingual planprivately developedproject based curriculumpublic benefits conceptroadmapsandcastlesscheme of workschemessensor network designshape typestrategize a competitive responsestrategize process improvementsstrategizingtense indicating futuretraditionally designedurban society development planverb of creationwater quality test plotswills
Adjective(6 words)
harappan city planningone-off motif designoriginal mixpremeditatedsocial system designingusable design
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: contrive, formulate, invent, add a codicil, architect.
- Sentence evidence is available for devise, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from wordnet, opengloss, moby, derived_reverse, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "devise".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "devise"
Keep "devise" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "devise" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "devise", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "devise" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
17 entriesShowing 16 of 17 words.
More specific
11 entriesCollocations
10 entriesclever devisedevise a methoddevise a plandevise a schemedevise a solutiondevise a strategyeffective deviseingenious devisepractical devisesound devise
Inflections
3 entriesDerivations
9 entriesSample sentences
22 total sentences available.
He tried to devise a plan for getting rid of termites.
Source: tatoeba (290169)
He could devise clever alibis.
Source: tatoeba (2755239)
Dorcon, finding himself vanquished, fled into the woods to hide his shame and displeasure, and to devise some other means of succeeding in his love affairs.
Source: tatoeba (6212451)
Showing 4 of 22 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "devise"?
Closest matches include contrive, formulate, invent, add a codicil, architect.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "devise"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.