mastermind

1 of 2

noun

mas·​ter·​mind ˈma-stər-ˌmīnd 

ˌmas-tər-ˈ

: a person who supplies the directing or creative intelligence for a project

mastermind

2 of 2

verb

masterminded; masterminding; masterminds

transitive verb

: to be the mastermind of

Synonyms of mastermind

Noun

• architect
• engineer

Verb

• engineer
• negotiate
• plot
• manipulate
• arrange
• maneuver

Examples of mastermind in a Sentence

Noun

the mastermind behind the terrorist plot

the real mastermind behind the embezzlement scheme

Verb

They masterminded a unique solution to the problem.

He masterminded the bank robbery.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

For many, official pledges of justice ring hollow in a country where few gang slayings are resolved beyond what critics call token arrests, typically of low-level hit men and not the masterminds. — Los Angeles Times, 26 July 2026

The dark glam was imagined by makeup mastermind Nikki Wolff, also known as @Nikki_Makeup on Instagram. — Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 24 July 2026

Verb

Russian war bloggers responded to Fedorov’s dismissal with glee, noting his role in masterminding long-range drone strikes on oil facilities that have caused a fuel crisis and midrange attacks that disrupted military logistics. — ABC News, 21 July 2026

Ferrell, who had an alternate offer, then masterminded an exit strategy. — Stephanie Sengwe, PEOPLE, 20 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1872, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1927, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for mastermind

• countersigned
• disinclined
• humankind
• interlined
• intertwined
• misaligned
• nonaligned
• predefined
• realigned
• reassigned
• recombined
• redefined

Kids Definition

mastermind

noun

mas·​ter·​mind

ˈmas-tər-ˌmīnd, 

ˌmas-tər-ˈmīnd

: a person who invents or directs a project

mastermind verb