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, 16 Dec. 2025
On its face, the film is about the cops-and-robbers, Tom-and-Jerry dynamic between Vincent Hanna, a Los Angeles Police Department lieutenant (played by Al Pacino), and Neil McCauley, a bank-robbing mastermind (Robert De Niro).
—Jesse Raub, The Atlantic, 15 Dec. 2025
Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 15 Dec. 2025
The former president has since been indicted for masterminding an insurrection, abusing power and attempting treason.
—NPR, 3 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for mastermind
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Noun
Norris, Stern's quiet sidekick and mastermind of many of the show's parody songs and sound effects, has been with Stern since 1979, while Quivers, who started with Stern in 1981 as his news anchor, remains Stern's steady guiding force.
—Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 16 Dec. 2025
On its face, the film is about the cops-and-robbers, Tom-and-Jerry dynamic between Vincent Hanna, a Los Angeles Police Department lieutenant (played by Al Pacino), and Neil McCauley, a bank-robbing mastermind (Robert De Niro).
—Jesse Raub, The Atlantic, 15 Dec. 2025
Verb
Cho also said that Yoon had masterminded a plan in October 2023 to suspend the powers of South Korea’s parliament and replace it with an emergency legislative body.
—Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 15 Dec. 2025
The former president has since been indicted for masterminding an insurrection, abusing power and attempting treason.
—NPR, 3 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for mastermind
Cite this Entry
“Mastermind.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mastermind. Accessed 23 Dec. 2025.
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