By design
By design adverb - With intention; in an intentional manner.
Specifically and by design are semantically related. In some cases you can use "Specifically" instead an adverb phrase "By design".
Specifically
Specifically adverb - In regard to something mentioned explicitly or in detail.
By design and specifically are semantically related. Sometimes you can use "By design" instead an adverb "Specifically".
Both terms in one sentence
-
It's not floating by design though; Merlock specifically wished to "return home in his new home".
- In contrast, if the game has specifically been programmed to place the player in an unwinnable situation, it is Unwinnable by Design.
Source: Unwinnable by Mistake - Note that the phenomenon of Trolling, in all its forms, specifically contradicts this law (though trolling by design does adhere to Grey's Law).
Source: Hanlon's Razor
Cite this Source
Specifically and By design. (2016). Retrieved 2026, August 16, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/by_design/specifically
By design & Specifically. N.p., 2016. Web. 16 Aug. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/by_design/specifically>.
Specifically or By design. 2016. Accessed August 16, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/by_design/specifically.
Google Ngram Viewer shows how "by design" and "specifically" have occurred on timeline