conspire

verb

con·spire | \ kən-ˈspī(-ə)r

conspired; conspiring

Definition of conspire

: plot, contrive

1a : 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 More Example Sentences Learn More about conspire

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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

Former Goldman managing director Roger Ng was indicted on three counts of conspiring to violate foreign antibribery laws and launder money, the filings show. — Liz Hoffman, WSJ, "Goldman Sachs’s Ex-CEO Lloyd Blankfein Met Malaysian at Center of 1MDB Scandal," 9 Nov. 2018 Blankenship served a year in prison on a misdemeanor conviction for conspiring to violate mine safety laws, in connection with the Upper Big Branch Mine explosion in West Virginia in 2010 that killed 29 workers. — Alex Pappas, Fox News, "Morrisey pulls off upset in W.Va. Senate primary, as Indiana’s Braun and Ohio’s Renacci win nominations," 2 Oct. 2018 Atesanio surrendered Monday to authorities on two charges of conspiring to violate the teen's civil rights and depriving him of those rights. — Charles Rabin And Jay Weaver, miamiherald, "Ex-police chief, 2 officers framed teen for burglaries in tiny Miami town, feds say," 11 June 2018 Blankenship, the former CEO of Massey Energy, was convicted of a misdemeanor charge of conspiring to violate mine health and safety standards. — Nicole Gaudiano, USA TODAY, "Ex-convict Don Blankenship launches third-party Senate bid in West Virginia," 21 May 2018 Blankenship was sentenced in 2016 for a misdemeanor conviction of conspiring to violate federal mine safety standards at Massey's Upper Big Branch Mine in southern West Virginia, where 29 workers died in a 2010 explosion. — John Raby, Houston Chronicle, "Convicted ex-coal CEO launches Senate bid with town hall," 18 Jan. 2018 Iacobelli and Morgan are both charged with conspiring to violate the Labor Management Relations Act, which prohibits payments of any kind — cash or gifts — between auto and union officials. — Tresa Baldas, Detroit Free Press, "Ex-Fiat Chrysler exec and widow of UAW official to plead guilty in scandal," 16 Jan. 2018 Days later, Mueller filed 32 charges against Manafort and his business partner for allegedly lying on tax returns and conspiring to commit bank fraud. — Emily Bloch, Teen Vogue, "The Russia Investigation Is Almost Over. Here's What You Need to Know," 8 Dec. 2018 Cooke is deliciously nonchalant in her sociopathic callousness while Taylor-Joy sells the repression of a young woman who looks like her French twist and perfect Peter Pan collar are conspiring to strangle her. — Eliza Berman, Time, "Best Movies of 2018 So Far," 4 June 2018

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.