Definition of Machiavelliannext

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for Machiavellian
Adjective
  • To do so is to be tacitly complicit in what these companies know to be wrong, unethical and immoral.
    Chris Willman, Variety, 7 Apr. 2026
  • Lawyers for the church argue that Morris’ agreements with the church preclude him from those benefits if he was fired or resigned because of immoral behavior.
    Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • Not many years ago, a ruthless man with an uneasy mind took power in his country and created a cult of personality.
    David Remnick, New Yorker, 10 Apr. 2026
  • The sequel picks up as Tyler Rake, back from the brink of death, gets hired to rescue a ruthless gangster’s family from prison.
    Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 8 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • Transparency International ranks both governments among the most corrupt in the world.
    The Week UK, TheWeek, 12 Apr. 2026
  • Corruption watchdog Transparency International has ranked Hungary the most corrupt country in the EU.
    Christian Edwards, CNN Money, 11 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • Police at this point believe neither of these new notes are authentic, just an attempt by unscrupulous people to take advantage of the situation.
    Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 9 Apr. 2026
  • The Tribune reports on how the legal system is failing people who have been wrongly accused of crimes and how some unscrupulous attorneys have turned the system into a gravy train for themselves.
    Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 4 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • Practically all the public’s attention has been on the president and his oddball or vengeful or unprincipled actions.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 12 Apr. 2026
  • How pathetically far this blithering, unprincipled piece of trash has gone to endanger other lives, to expressly distract and deflect from his own wicked deeds, and to further benefit his grifting family’s larcenously enlarged bounties.
    Voice of the People, New York Daily News, 8 Mar. 2026
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.

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Machiavellian.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/Machiavellian. Accessed 17 Apr. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster