We have to formulate a plan if we are to save her!
Source: tatoeba (868267)
Formulate
/ˈfɔː(ɹ)mjʊleɪt/
Synonyms for "formulate" (341 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (69)
Verb(14 words)
Noun(27 words)
abstract logicarchetypeballot handling protocolbehavior policy designbiology curriculum textbrewingclass constructcoincompose a planconceitsconceivingconceptualizingconcertingconcoctingconstruct based taskconstruct piecesconstructed fromconstructscontract clause draftingcouches
articulateassembleauthorauthorizeblock outbreathebuildcastchimechorusclarifycoauthorcodifycollaboratecome out withcommunicatecomposecompoundconceiveconcoct
Show 6 more words
Adjective(2 words)
communal decision making modelcontrived
Strong matches (102)
Noun(31 words)
craft plancraft producedcraft projectcraft taskcraft techniquecraftingcraftsdefining termdesign algorithmsdesign an experimentdesign experimentdesign language plandesign place value contentdesign release stagedeveloped language skillsdeveloping projectdevelopment programdevice functiondevise approachdevising
Show 11 more words
district conduct proceduredraw up a contractdynamic programming algorithmizingevolve most graduallyforce balance equationsform basedformulating questionfragrancesframing an argumentgeneratinggestating
Verb(29 words)
Adjective(1 words)
danish skabe
Related words (170)
give expression togive out withgive tonguegive utterancegive voicegive words tohatchhatch upimpartimproviseinditeinventknock offknock outlegalizelegislatelegitimatelegitimatizelegitimizelet out
Show 73 more words
linelipmakemake a regulationmake legalmake upmanufacturemap outmaturemoldmouldmouldermouldynovelizeordainoriginateout withpamphleteerparagraphparticularizepatch togetherphonatephrasepiece togetherpour forthprefabricateprepareprescribepresentproduceprogrammepronounceputput forthput in forceput in wordsput togetherput upraiserearregulaterhetorizerun upsanctionsayscenarizeschemeset forthset outset upshapesoundspecifystatestylesystematizetellthink ofthink upthrow offthrow on paperturnuttervalidatevamp upverbalizevocalizevoicewhisperwhomp upwordwork outwrite
Verb(27 words)
give voicehammeredhatchedideateinventinventsmake a planorganizephrasephrasedplanproduce a planpropositionalizepropositionalizedreagentizeset out a planstandardizestatestate a hypothesisstrategize
Show 7 more words
Noun(45 words)
hatchinghatching processindividual planinternally definedinvent a gameinventinglanguage study planmake wording precisemarshallmaster plan creationmodel basedmodel policymore developedoriginal workphrasesphrasing a policypillingplain designsplanning curriculumpolicy term
Show 25 more words
predicate wordprimary grade bilingual planprivately developedproject based curriculumproportioningquestionnairesreasoning puzzlereview questionssandcastlesset guidelinesshape partsimply wordedsolution mixspanish articularspeaking abilityspring potential energy formulastate of present momentstrategize a competitive responsestrategize process improvementsstrategizingword problems in mathematicsword testwordingwordswritten instrument
Adverb(1 words)
highly theoretical modeling
Adjective(4 words)
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: articulate, devise, abstract logic, archetype, articulate.
- Sentence evidence is available for formulate, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from wordnet, opengloss, derived_reverse, moby, 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 "formulate".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "formulate"
Keep "formulate" 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 "formulate" 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 "formulate", 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 "formulate" 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
19 entriescalculateconjectureconveycreatecreate by mental actcreate from raw materialcreate from raw stuffcreate mentallydevelopevinceexpresshypothecatehypothesisehypothesizeshowspeculate
Showing 16 of 19 words.
More specific
6 entriesCollocations
6 entriesformulate a hypothesisformulate a planformulate a policyformulate a questionformulate a strategyformulate guidelines
Inflections
3 entriesDerivations
3 entriessimilar
3 entriesSample sentences
13 total sentences available.
Reading, in itself, was not a crime, but because of its solitary nature, it raised suspicion that one might formulate unapproved opinions.
Source: tatoeba (2585311)
Readers formulate expectations as to what might be happening at subsequent stages of texts.
Source: tatoeba (3149563)
I cannot coherently formulate words without coffee.
Source: tatoeba (6938291)
Showing 4 of 13 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "formulate"?
Closest matches include articulate, devise, abstract logic, archetype, articulate.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "formulate"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.