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 of conspire

• 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

Catherine Spidell-Ferguson pleaded guilty on Friday to conspiring to commit bank fraud. —Joseph Buczek, CBS News, 27 Apr. 2026

As teen-agers, the sisters conspired to get jobs in a cafeteria in nearby Pripyat. —Lizzie Johnson, New Yorker, 25 Apr. 2026

This comes after Gonzalez pleaded guilty in July 2024 to conspiring to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine, and last October to possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense. —Lance Reynolds, Boston Herald, 25 Apr. 2026

Around 2021, the indictment alleges, Meade began conspiring with West to structure various financial transactions in an effort to obstruct the IRS from assessing and collecting Meade’s federal tax obligation. —Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 24 Apr. 2026

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