method

noun

ˈme-thəd How to pronounce method (audio)
Definition of methodnext
as in approach
the means or procedure for doing something the city council is stuck in the last century and needs to adopt more modern methods for doing things

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Synonym Chooser

How is the word method different from other nouns like it?

Some common synonyms of method are fashion, manner, mode, system, and way. While all these words mean "the means taken or procedure followed in achieving an end," method implies an orderly logical arrangement usually in steps.

effective teaching methods

Where would fashion be a reasonable alternative to method?

The words fashion and method are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, fashion may suggest a peculiar or characteristic way of doing something.

rushing about in his typical fashion

How do manner and mode relate to one another, in the sense of method?

Manner is close to mode but may imply a procedure or method that is individual or distinctive.

an odd manner of conducting

In what contexts can mode take the place of method?

Although the words mode and method have much in common, mode implies an order or course followed by custom, tradition, or personal preference.

the preferred mode of transportation

When can system be used instead of method?

While the synonyms system and method are close in meaning, system suggests a fully developed or carefully formulated method often emphasizing rational orderliness.

a filing system

When might way be a better fit than method?

The words way and method can be used in similar contexts, but way is very general and may be used for any of the preceding words.

has her own way of doing things

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 method This is a smart age-appropriate method for preparing your child for new experiences, and can easily be recreated at home if your child is still nervous about the dentist even after listening to the song. —Marilyn La Jeunesse, Parents, 9 July 2025 Officials also cited the efficiency of shipping on America's inland waterways compared to other methods. —Connor Giffin, The Courier-Journal, 9 July 2025 By eliminating traditional cooling methods, Shell has significantly reduced energy demand while boosting efficiency. —Kathleen Abbott, Forbes.com, 27 June 2025 Areas to watch, says Arthur Adam, a neurosurgeon and stroke expert at University of Tennessee Health Sciences Center, include how human brain tissue is affected by the new thrombectomy method, and how the cells and debris behave once they’re liberated from the fibrin by the milli-spinner. —Ani Freedman, Fortune, 27 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for method
Recent Examples of Synonyms for method
  1. approach
  2. technique
  3. strategy
  4. methodology
  5. way
  6. manner
Noun
  • This includes pragmatic policies on copyright and data protection, a balanced approach to onshore and offshore chip manufacturing, and removing regulatory barriers to energy use and generation.
    — Christiaan Hetzner, Fortune, 13 July 2025
  • His approach to the book project was to marry the factual fidelity required of an official battalion history with a novelistic evocation of life on the front.
    — Ed Caesar, New Yorker, 13 July 2025
Definition of approach
Noun
  • New leaders should effectively practice techniques to regulate these emotions.
    — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 14 July 2025
  • Baby Hope's case was officially reopened in 2019 after a technique called genetic genealogy proved successful in cracking long-term unsolved cases like the 1988 murder of April Marie Tinsley The process involves using public DNA databases to find close family members of an unknown person.
    — Ryan Murphy, IndyStar, 14 July 2025
Definition of technique
Noun
  • This has become something of a state religion—as much a matter of ideology as of strategy.
    — Frank Lavin, Forbes.com, 13 July 2025
  • First, its exercise of power is weakened by its dearth of strategy.
    — Hal Brands, Twin Cities, 13 July 2025
Definition of strategy
Noun
  • The Cinematic Audit Wait Until Tomorrow is so effective due to Dixon’s methodology and intentional research.
    — Stephanie Tharpe, Forbes.com, 4 July 2025
  • To learn more information on our reporting and testing processes, read our complete reviews process and methodology page.
    — Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 3 July 2025
Definition of methodology
Noun
  • The weather is perfect nearly year-round, with a rainy summer season that breaks way to a downright mesmerizing winter marked by sunny days and cool nights.
    — Michaela Trimble, Vogue, 13 July 2025
  • Park Eun-bin stars as Young-woo, a rookie attorney on the autism spectrum who pairs her intelligence with a unique perspective to help her clients in novel ways.
    — Sara Netzley, EW.com, 13 July 2025
Definition of way
Noun
  • The bill would also require them to display legible identification, including their agency name or acronym and name or badge number in a manner that remains visible and unobscured by tactical gear or clothing.
    — Daniel Gonzalez, AZCentral.com, 14 July 2025
  • Because of this, specialty coffee is also a game of logistics, getting coffees out of country in a timely manner in order to preserve the delicate sweetness and complexity that producers had worked so hard to create.
    — Christopher Marquis, Forbes.com, 14 July 2025
Definition of manner

Browse Nearby Words

metes (out)
method
methodical
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Method.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/method. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.

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