intentions

noun

plural of intention
1
as in goals
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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in senses
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

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 intentions But the Heat have made clear their win-now intentions, which makes this the better hand to play at the moment. — Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 13 Aug. 2026 The company announced its intentions back in 2024 to build a stop in Cocoa, but a completion date is not expected until 2030. — Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 12 Aug. 2026 Interview data suggests that respondents justify this contradiction by focusing on intentions rather than outcomes or highlighting diversity related to factors like age, region, or viewpoint rather than race or gender. — Adia Harvey Wingfield, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026 Incumbent Brandon Johnson has yet to announce his intentions to seek re-election to another four-year term. — Charles Selle, Chicago Tribune, 12 Aug. 2026 Nobody publicly confirmed plans for a leadership bid or expressed intentions to oust their leader, and those whose names were reported speculatively by news outlets denied it. — ABC News, 11 Aug. 2026 Whatever the intentions of those who named and promoted the facility, Alligator Alcatraz echoed a long tradition of using alligators in ways that have reinforced racist imagery and dehumanizing stereotypes. — The Conversation, 11 Aug. 2026 Mel Gibson is sharing an update on the development of Lethal Weapon 5 following years of the actor’s intentions to make the sequel. — Armando Tinoco, Deadline, 11 Aug. 2026 Nature as environment, as landscape, as a force beyond the rational, and as a place where beauty and a primeval absence of bad intentions come together, has become either a commodity or an endangered space. — Literary Hub, 11 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for intentions
  1. goals
  2. senses
  3. plans
  4. meanings
  5. purposes
  6. intents
  7. objectives
  8. contents
Noun
  • Another to watch out for is Deportivo’s Yeremay Hernandez, 23, a wide attacker stepping up to the top flight after 27 goals and 18 assists in 86 second-division games.
    — Dermot Corrigan, New York Times, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Sagittarius November 22 – December 21 Your goals can hold more joy with the right adjustment.
    — Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of goals
Noun
  • The scene never fails to baffle the senses as the path rises up about a thousand feet from the valley floor.
    — Kalpana Mohan, Mercury News, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Decades of scrolling have dulled our senses somewhat; this is inevitable.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of senses
Noun
  • To boost attendance this summer, Disney unleashed a bevy of discounts from coast to coast, for tickets, hotels and dining plans for the season.
    — Natasha Chen, CNN Money, 13 Aug. 2026
  • The Kennedy Center's board is expected to meet Thursday to consider plans for the performing arts venue's future after a federal judge blocked an earlier move for a two-year closure that would allow for substantial renovations.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of plans
Noun
  • Read on to learn the meanings behind some of Queen Elizabeth’s great-grandchildren’s names.
    — Andrea Wurzburger, PEOPLE, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Some don't seem tied to the obvious icon meanings to me, such as a paintbrush for adding photos to the active composer, or a party popper shooting confetti as the icon for opening a side chat.
    — Brian Westover, PC Magazine, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of meanings
Noun
  • If approved, the legislation would extend exemptions to class cars built between 1976 and 1985 that are used primarily for exhibition purposes and have limited use on public roadways.
    — Darrielle Fair, CBS News, 13 Aug. 2026
  • Warner said Idaho Public Archaeology, which has had around 400 volunteers and 5,000 visitors to various projects over the years, serves multiple purposes.
    — Nicole Blanchard, Idaho Statesman, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of purposes
Noun
  • Nearly every customer relationship, operational workflow, escalation path and commercial outcome emerges from one of these two conversational intents.
    — Naresh Prajapati, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026
  • For all intents and purposes, an unknown actor can wade unburdened into the depths of Bond, able to transform without a viewer’s prior expectation tainting the image of 007.
    — Emily Maskell, IndieWire, 10 July 2026
Definition of intents
Noun
  • The parties should agree, at minimum, on the format and objectives of the talks, the mediators’ roles, the status of representatives, how the agenda is set, how decisions are reached, and how confidentiality and public communications are handled.
    — Matt Waldman, Foreign Affairs, 13 Aug. 2026
  • As families grow and increase in complexity over time, different members often also have varying objectives around liquidity.
    — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of objectives
Noun
  • The book served as a key piece of evidence from the prosecution thus far, though Davis has pleaded not guilty and has distanced himself from the contents of the memoir, saying the information in the book was false and designed to sell copies.
    — Ethan Millman, HollywoodReporter, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Called to Oallen, a town about 125 miles southwest of Sydney, police officers established a crime scene but did not examine the contents too closely.
    — Reuters, NBC news, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of contents

Browse Nearby Words

intentionally
intentions
intently
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Cite this Entry

“Intentions.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/intentions. Accessed 16 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on intentions

Nglish: Translation of intentions for Spanish Speakers

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