conspire

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verb con·spire \ kən-ˈspī(-ə)r \

Definition of conspire

conspired; conspiring

transitive verb

:plot, contrive

intransitive verb

1 a :to join in a secret agreement to do an unlawful or wrongful act or an act which becomes unlawful as a result of the secret agreement

accused of conspiring to overthrow the government

conspired to monopolize and restrict trade

b :scheme

2 :to act in harmony toward a common end

Circumstances conspired to defeat his efforts.

… the sun and the wind conspired to make splinters out of solid wood.
—B. J. Oliphant

See conspire defined for English-language learners

See conspire defined for kids

Examples of conspire in a Sentence

conspired to replace the leader with someone more easily influenced
foul weather and airline foul-ups seemed to be conspiring to ruin our vacation

Recent Examples of conspire from the Web

A Mississippi man was sentenced to federal prison this week for conspiring with his girlfriend to steal more than $1 million from a Birmingham surgical practice.

— ivana hrynkiw, AL.com, "Mississippi man sentenced for embezzling from Alabama surgical practice," 14 July 2017
The split left Fatah to rule the West Bank, Hamas to control Gaza, and both sides to conspire in an elaborate fiction that the two still form a single whole.

— The Economist, "Hamastan at 10Hamas marks ten years of misruling Gaza," 13 July 2017
His lawyers filed a $20 million wrongful imprisonment lawsuit against the Canadian government, arguing the government violated international law by not protecting its own citizen and conspired with the U.S. in its abuse of Khadr.

— Bloomberg.com, "Canada to Apologize, Pay Former Gitmo Prisoner Omar Khadr," 4 July 2017
His lawyers filed a $20 million wrongful imprisonment lawsuit against the Canadian government, arguing the government violated international law by not protecting its own citizen and conspired with the U.S. in its abuse of Khadr.

— rob gillies, miamiherald, "Canada to apologize, pay former Guantánamo prisoner Omar Khadr," 4 July 2017
His lawyers filed a $20 million wrongful imprisonment lawsuit against the Canadian government, arguing the government violated international law by not protecting its own citizen and conspired with the U.S. in its abuse of Khadr.

— rob gillies, miamiherald, "Canada to apologize, pay former Guantánamo prisoner Omar Khadr," 4 July 2017
His lawyers filed a $20 million wrongful imprisonment lawsuit against the Canadian government, arguing the government violated international law by not protecting its own citizen and conspired with the U.S. in its abuse of Khadr.

— rob gillies, miamiherald, "Canada to apologize, pay former Guantánamo prisoner Omar Khadr," 4 July 2017
His lawyers filed a $20 million wrongful imprisonment lawsuit against the Canadian government, arguing the government violated international law by not protecting its own citizen and conspired with the U.S. in its abuse of Khadr.

— rob gillies, The Seattle Times, "Canada to apologize, pay former Gitmo prisoner Omar Khadr," 3 July 2017
The suit claimed three manufacturers - LG Chem Ltd. and LG Chem America Inc.; Hitachi Maxell Ltd. and Maxell Corporation of America; and NEC Corp. - conspired to fix prices for more than 10 years, the Clarion-Ledger reported.

— leada gore, AL.com, "Bought a cellphone, laptop, electronics since 2000? $45 million settlement available," 3 July 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'conspire.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of conspire

Middle English, from Anglo-French conspirer, from Latin conspirare to be in harmony, conspire, from com- + spirare to breathe

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First Known Use: 14th century

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conspire Synonyms

Synonyms

collude, compass, connive, plot, contrive, intrigue, machinate, put up, scheme

Related Words

counterplot; brew, concoct, cook (up), devise, hatch; engineer, jockey, maneuver, manipulate; design, frame, lay out, map, plan, shape

CONSPIRE Defined for English Language Learners

conspire

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verb

Definition of conspire for English Language Learners

: to secretly plan with someone to do something that is harmful or illegal
: to happen in a way that produces bad or unpleasant results

CONSPIRE Defined for Kids

conspire

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verb con·spire \ kən-ˈspīr \

Definition of conspire for Students

conspired; conspiring

1 :to make an agreement with others especially in secret to do an unlawful act

2 :to act together

Events conspired to spoil our plans.

Law Dictionary

conspire

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intransitive verb con·spire \ kən-ˈspīr \

legal Definition of conspire

conspired; conspiring

:to join in a conspiracy — compare solicit

Origin and Etymology of conspire

Latin conspirare to be in harmony, to join in an unlawful agreement, from com- together + spirare to breathe

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CONSPIRE Defined for English Language Learners

conspire

Definition of conspire for English Language Learners

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conspire

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conspire

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