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 police then conspired to fabricate evidence and lie under oath to protect their own, the defense alleged. —Jean Casarez, CNN Money, 25 Apr. 2025

Read says Boston-area first responders conspired to frame her for the Keefe's death in January 2022, when the former police officer was found mortally wounded outside a Canton, Massachusetts, home. —Michael Loria, USA Today, 25 Apr. 2025

Lori Vallow Daybell is speaking out for the first time after being found guilty of conspiring to kill her fourth husband, Charles Vallow, in Arizona. —Nicole Acosta, People.com, 25 Apr. 2025

Vallow Daybell was convicted in 2023 and is serving life in prison without the possibility of parole for murdering Tylee and JJ, and conspiring to kill Tammy Daybell. —Theresa Braine, New York Daily News, 24 Apr. 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