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
The country in 2018 also introduced a new procedure that could encourage those with firsthand knowledge of a scheme to provide evidence or cooperate with authorities, according to the report. — Mengqi Sun, WSJ, "Antibribery Group Presses Japan to Increase Its Enforcement," 5 July 2019 Cranford admitted last year to bribing lawmakers as part of the scheme. — Washington Post, "Former Arkansas lawmaker pleads guilty in corruption cases," 25 June 2019 One of the architects of the scheme, Michael Drobot, the former owner of Pacific Hospital in Long Beach, is currently serving five years in federal prison and must forfeit $10 million. — CBS News, "Men expose billion-dollar back surgery scam involving doctor kickbacks and fake hardware," 21 June 2019 Fourteen more current and former students who were denied admissions into elite universities tied to the nation's college admissions scandal are now suing the colleges and the mastermind of the scheme, seeking to get back their application fees. — Joey Garrison, USA TODAY, "14 more rejected students sue universities, mastermind of admissions scheme," 18 June 2019 From June 5, President Trump scrapped trade privileges under the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) for India, the biggest beneficiary of a scheme that allowed duty-free exports of up to $5.6 billion. — NBC News, "India to impose retaliatory tariffs on 28 U.S. goods," 16 June 2019 Vandemoer has admitted to accepting $610,000 in bribes as part of the scheme, although prosecutors have recommended a lower sentence because the former coach did not personally pocket the funds, but rather used it for the team. — Matthias Gafni, SFChronicle.com, "College admissions scandal: New details released on Stanford sailing coach," 7 June 2019 Elmi, a British citizen, is the person some conservative media have alleged to be Omar’s brother as part of an immigration scheme. — Dave Orrick, Twin Cities, "Ilhan Omar’s tax filings scrutinized. Here’s a timeline, including her marriage status.," 7 June 2019 Aniston enlisted the aid of #AD100 interior designer @stephenshadley to help preserve the modernist ethos of the original scheme while softening some of its sharp lines and outfitting the interior with tactile, organic finishes and furnishings. — Elizabeth Gulino, House Beautiful, "Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston’s Former Beverly Hills Home is On The Market For $56 Million," 10 Apr. 2019Recent Examples on the Web: Verb
Or, the phrase conjures nightmarish images of a ruthless, scheming Lady MacBeth, pulling the strings behind the scenes and usurping the power her husband came by honestly. — Chloe Angyal, Marie Claire, "When Your Spouse Is a Politician, What Happens to You?," 27 June 2019 View Sample Sign Up Now Meanwhile, scheming hotel employees like pregnant maid Ingrid (Anne Winters) and new waiter Danny (Lincoln Younes) try to evade Santiago’s intimidating right-hand woman, Mrs. P (Wendy Raquel Robinson). — Judy Berman, Time, "ABC's Charmless Grand Hotel Will Leave You Desperate to Check Out," 13 June 2019 Last week, guilty verdicts were returned against three defendants who schemed to pay the families of high-school basketball recruits to steer those recruits to play at universities sponsored by Adidas, including Louisville. — WSJ, "Innocent Rick Pitino Fired for Sins of Others," 31 Oct. 2018 Simple math can help scheming politicians draw up districts that give their party outsize influence, but mathematics can also help identify and remedy these situations. — Quanta Magazine, "The Math Behind Gerrymandering and Wasted Votes," 12 Oct. 2017 The animated sequel follows the flightless birds and scheming green pigs taking their beef to the next level. — Alexia Fernandez, PEOPLE.com, "See Tiffany Haddish Make Her Debut as the Adorable Debbie in The Angry Birds Movie 2," 6 June 2019 Alfred, Annie’s new boyfriend, doesn’t appreciate the treatment and starts scheming behind his partner's back. — Brian Truitt, USA TODAY, "Margot Robbie finds a character even more bonkers than Harley Quinn in 'Terminal'," 4 May 2018 Ayesteran was often the man to make personal connections with the players, while Benitez spent his days scheming behind the scenes. — SI.com, "FanView: Zeljko Buvac's Exit Revives Familiar Feelings, But There's No Reason to Panic," 1 May 2018 When not playing dead on the battlefield or scheming for glory by killing an already dead man, Hanks’ Falstaff offers piercing ironic commentary on such concepts as honor and valor. — Charles Mcnulty, latimes.com, "Tom Hanks, Hamish Linklater and a 'Henry IV' worthy of applause," 10 June 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
9 Jul 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)
scheme
verbEnglish Language Learners Definition of scheme (Entry 2 of 2)
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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