mas·ter·mind
ˈma-stər-ˌmīnd 
ˌmas-tər-ˈ
: a person who supplies the directing or creative intelligence for a project
masterminded; masterminding; masterminds
: to be the mastermind of
Examples of mastermind in a Sentence
Noun
the mastermind behind the terrorist plot
the real mastermind behind the embezzlement scheme
Verb
They masterminded a unique solution to the problem.
He masterminded the bank robbery.
Recent Examples on the Web
Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 23 June 2026
De la Fuente has received a lot of criticism from the media and Spanish fans online for Monday’s performance, and there is a lot of nostalgic pining for former assistant manager Pablo Amo, who left the coaching staff in February 2025 but who many say was the real mastermind of the Euro 2024 squad.
—Patrick Sung Cuadrado, CNN Money, 21 June 2026
Savannah Walsh, Vanity Fair, 18 June 2026
Prosecutors said the ringleader was recruited online for a plot masterminded by Russia’s intelligence services.
—ABC News, 16 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for mastermind
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Noun
Clive Davis, one of the most influential record moguls in music history and the mastermind behind the careers of Whitney Houston, Barry Manilow, Earth, Wind & Fire, Alicia Keys and dozens of other artists, has died at 94.
—Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 23 June 2026
De la Fuente has received a lot of criticism from the media and Spanish fans online for Monday’s performance, and there is a lot of nostalgic pining for former assistant manager Pablo Amo, who left the coaching staff in February 2025 but who many say was the real mastermind of the Euro 2024 squad.
—Patrick Sung Cuadrado, CNN Money, 21 June 2026
Verb
Last year, both Karen Read, acquitted of killing her Boston cop boyfriend in June, and Sherri Papini, who served time for masterminding her own 2016 kidnapping in California, participated in documentaries about their cases.
—Savannah Walsh, Vanity Fair, 18 June 2026
Prosecutors said the ringleader was recruited online for a plot masterminded by Russia’s intelligence services.
—ABC News, 16 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for mastermind
Cite this Entry
“Mastermind.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mastermind. Accessed 24 Jun. 2026.
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