conspire

verb

con·​spire kən-ˈspī(-ə)r 

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

Synonyms

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

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 on the Web

The instability, poor governance, corruption and mafia-style politicking, including a network of people-smuggling gangs, have all conspired to make this tragedy. —Alex Crawford, NBC News, 15 Sep. 2023

When another tariff in 1890 again threatened the sugar industry, these leaders conspired with U.S. Foreign Minister to Hawaii John L. Stevens to secure U.S. military backing and secretly carry out the overthrow, presumably to no longer pay tariffs. —Rachel Hatzipanagos, Washington Post, 12 Sep. 2023

He is charged in the Fulton County indictment with seven criminal counts, including conspiring to impersonate a public officer, to commit first-degree forgery, to make false statements and writings, and to file false documents. —Sarah D. Wire, Los Angeles Times, 11 Sep. 2023

Vallow also conspired to kill Tammy Daybell, Chad Daybell's first wife, in October 2019. —Audrey Conklin, Fox News, 6 Sep. 2023

Perry wasn’t indicted with Trump in the federal case alleging the former president conspired to defraud the country and obstruct Congress from counting Electoral College votes. —Bart Jansen, USA TODAY, 5 Sep. 2023

With rising living costs, poor economic prospects and the demanding work culture conspiring against them, fewer Japanese today are opting to get married and have children. —Chris Lau, CNN, 2 Sep. 2023

The Utes say yes and have filed a lawsuit alleging that state officials conspired to effectively block the tribe from regaining control of part of its ancestral homelands. —Courtney Tanner, The Salt Lake Tribune, 1 Sep. 2023

She’s accused of conspiring to skim nearly $200,000 of public funding from a Jefferson County community service fund. —Ike Morgan | [e-mail], al, 1 Sep. 2023

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Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Kids Definition

conspire

verb

con·​spire kən-ˈspī(ə)r 

conspired; conspiring

1

: to agree secretly to do an unlawful act : plot

conspiring to overthrow the dictator

2

: to act together

measles and the weather conspired to spoil our vacation

Legal Definition

conspire

intransitive verb

con·​spire kən-ˈspīr 

conspired; conspiring

: to join in a conspiracy compare solicit

Etymology

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