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

• plot
• 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

Pryor, 36, accused the defendants of conspiring to violate antitrust law and unjustly enriching themselves. —Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 19 July 2025

Clean Your Gutters Even if everything inside is ready to battle hot, humid air, your home’s exterior forces may be conspiring against you. —Hallie Milstein, Southern Living, 17 July 2025

Among thousands of acts of clemency was a decision to commute the sentence of Adrian Peeler, a 48-year-old convicted of conspiring to murder an eight-year-old boy and his mother in 1999, a notorious crime that caused the tightening of state laws by the Connecticut legislature. —The Editors, National Review, 17 July 2025

In addition to the Suisun City heist, prosecutors said Jones and Millett conspired to commit at least 10 bank robberies at eight credit unions and two banks in Sacramento, Vallejo, Benicia, Concord and Antioch and worked with others to carry out the robberies. —Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 11 July 2025

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

Rhymes for conspire

• briar
• brier
• buyer
• choir
• crier
• cryer
• drier
• dryer
• eyer
• flier
• flyer
• friar

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