scheme
noun
\
Definition of scheme
(Entry 1 of 2)
1a archaic
scheme
verbDefinition of scheme (Entry 2 of 2)
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Synonyms for scheme
Synonyms: Noun
artifice, device, dodge, fetch, flimflam, gambit, gimmick, jig, juggle, knack, play, ploy, ruse, shenanigan, sleight, stratagem, trick, wile
Synonyms: Verb
collude, compass, connive, conspire, contrive, intrigue, machinate, plot, put up
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Examples of scheme in a Sentence
Noun
a scheme to cheat people out of their money The company has a new scheme for insurance coverage. a scheme to improve the economy the color scheme of a roomVerb
He felt that the other men were scheming against him. He was betrayed by a scheming friend.
Recent Examples on the Web: Noun
BuzzFeed has reported that eight apps, including seven of Cheetah’s and one of Kika’s, were affected by the alleged fraud scheme. — Aisha Al-muslim, WSJ, "Google Suspends Two Mobile Apps After Reports of Ad Fraud," 4 Dec. 2018 The earthy decor scheme plays off the house’s beautiful stone and wood details. — ELLE Decor, "This Holiday Party Is Anything But Traditional—And We're Obsessed," 30 Nov. 2018 The group allegedly ran two separate but related fraud schemes. — Adi Robertson, The Verge, "Eight people charged with running a multimillion-dollar online ad scam," 27 Nov. 2018 His company was seized by Russian authorities and used then in a massive tax fraud scheme. — Fox News, "Browder 'appalled' by White House reaction to Putin request," 19 July 2018 The stated reason was that Borgono became a U.S. citizen after the fraud scheme started. — Adiel Kaplan, miamiherald, "Miami grandma targeted as U.S. takes aim at naturalized immigrants with prior offenses," 9 July 2018 Others, like the Decatur defendant, are accused of health care fraud schemes that all together total $2 billion. — Joshua Sharpe, ajc, "DeKalb counselor charged with Medicaid fraud in massive national case," 29 June 2018 The men were arrested as part of a wide-ranging federal sting that also charged 601 people across 58 federal districts in health-care fraud schemes. — Aubrey Whelan, Philly.com, "Three Philly-area defendants charged in federal opioid crackdown," 28 June 2018 Over the last several months, and throughout the campaign, the GTTF horror show unfolded with the sordid details of cop corruption, and some of the cops involved in the robbery and fraud schemes were sentenced just this month. — Dan Rodricks, baltimoresun.com, "Amid epic police corruption, Mosby eludes blame for surge in violence," 27 June 2018Recent Examples on the Web: Verb
The first settlement related to DFS allegations that the bank had schemed to hide $250 billion for Iranian clients. — Samuel Rubenfeld, WSJ, "Standard Chartered’s New York Branch Compliance Monitoring to End," 21 Nov. 2018 Ibiza has a way of pulling in its visitors, and Santa Gertrudis in particular inspires scheming: a life off the grid, in this bohemian sanctuary, seems not just tangible but essential when one tastes it. — Tarajia Morrell, Vogue, "Il Buco Opens Its First International Outpost on the Bohemian Side of Ibiza," 19 July 2018 Defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz will scheme many ways to cover Gronk, who the Patriots line up all over and employ in a variety of ways. — Jeff Mclane, Philly.com, "Film Breakdown: Five Super Bowl matchups to watch," 2 Feb. 2018 British actress Hayley Mills played twins separated at birth who scheme to get their parents back together, and the remake follows a similar path, this time with the twins played by Lohan. — Kristen Lopez, Vox, "The Parent Trap, Meredith Blake, and the ongoing reclamation of “bitch”," 28 July 2018 And later, Google again caught red-handed scheming to oppose the president by fiddling with search results. — Fox News, "Media's Kavanaugh spectacle," 24 Sep. 2018 After a season of spying and scheming and fighting over dudes with boats, Siesta Key’s first season has finally come to a close. — Mark Shrayber, Cosmopolitan, "Spencer Pratt Breaks Down the Dramatic Siesta Key Finale," 6 Mar. 2018 Along with the school’s board chairman, they were charged with scheming to defraud. — Rebecca Davis O’brien, WSJ, "Prosecutors Expand Newsweek Case to Include California Bible College," 15 Nov. 2018 But Shelton was clearly not happy with the other coaches scheming against him, so perhaps a steal is in his future. — Megan Friedman, Country Living, "Veteran Mikele Buck Stunned Kelly Clarkson and Blake Shelton on 'The Voice'," 29 Sep. 2018These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'scheme.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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From the Editors at Merriam-Webster
The Good, The Bad, & The...
The Good, The Bad, & The Semantically Imprecise - 11/2
The words that defined the week of November 2nd, 2018
Dictionary Entries near scheme
Statistics for scheme
Last Updated
8 Jan 2019
Look-up Popularity
Time Traveler for scheme
The first known use of scheme was circa 1595
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More Definitions for scheme
scheme
noun
English Language Learners Definition of scheme
(Entry 1 of 2)
: a clever and often dishonest plan to do or get something
: an official plan or program of action
: the way that something is arranged or organized
scheme
verbEnglish Language Learners Definition of scheme (Entry 2 of 2)
: to make plans to do or get something in a secret and often dishonest way
See the full definition for scheme in the English Language Learners Dictionary
scheme
noun
\
Kids Definition of scheme
(Entry 1 of 2)
scheme
verbKids Definition of scheme (Entry 2 of 2)
scheme
noun
\
Medical Definition of scheme
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scheme
nounLegal Definition of scheme
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Comments on scheme
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