diff --git a/packages/angular/cli/src/commands/deploy/cli.ts b/packages/angular/cli/src/commands/deploy/cli.ts
index fb305c94aaf1..da333725cac3 100644
--- a/packages/angular/cli/src/commands/deploy/cli.ts
+++ b/packages/angular/cli/src/commands/deploy/cli.ts
@@ -39,5 +39,5 @@ export default class DeployCommandModule
   command = 'deploy [project]';
   override longDescription = longDescription;
   describe =
-    'Invokes the deploy builder for a specified project or for the default project in the workspace.';
+    'Invokes the deploy builder for a specified project or for the project in the current working directory.';
 }
diff --git a/packages/angular/cli/src/commands/deploy/long-description.md b/packages/angular/cli/src/commands/deploy/long-description.md
index 0436390680a4..53a2253be42b 100644
--- a/packages/angular/cli/src/commands/deploy/long-description.md
+++ b/packages/angular/cli/src/commands/deploy/long-description.md
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 The command takes an optional project name, as specified in the `projects` section of the `angular.json` workspace configuration file.
-When a project name is not supplied, executes the `deploy` builder for the default project.
+When a project name is not supplied, executes the `deploy` builder for the only project that has a `deploy` target,
+or for the project in the current working directory.
 
 To use the `ng deploy` command, use `ng add` to add a package that implements deployment capabilities to your favorite platform.
 Adding the package automatically updates your workspace configuration, adding a deployment
diff --git a/packages/angular/cli/src/commands/new/long-description.md b/packages/angular/cli/src/commands/new/long-description.md
index 1166f974887a..e211dadb5f35 100644
--- a/packages/angular/cli/src/commands/new/long-description.md
+++ b/packages/angular/cli/src/commands/new/long-description.md
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-Creates and initializes a new Angular application that is the default project for a new workspace.
+Creates and initializes a new Angular workspace with an initial application.
 
 Provides interactive prompts for optional configuration, such as adding routing support.
 All prompts can safely be allowed to default.