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

Four years earlier, DeLay had been been indicted on charges of conspiring to violate political fundraising law, leading to his resignation. —Martha Ross, The Mercury News, 4 Sep. 2024

They're charged with offenses including conspiring to murder U.S. nationals, conspiring to finance terrorism and conspiring to use weapons of mass destruction resulting in death. —Rebecca Falconer, Axios, 4 Sep. 2024

Sun, 40, is charged with violating and conspiring to violate the Foreign Agents Registration Act, visa fraud, alien smuggling and money laundering conspiracy. —Ty Roush, Forbes, 3 Sep. 2024

Patriot Front members later asserted that Vincent had conspired with hackers to further penetrate the group’s electronic files. —David D. Kirkpatrick, The New Yorker, 18 Aug. 2024

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

delays 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