Machiavellian

adjective

ˌma-kē-ə-ˈve-lē-ən How to pronounce Machiavellian (audio)
Definition of Machiavelliannext
as in immoral
not guided by or showing a concern for what is right yet another tale of a power-mad dictator with a Machiavellian plan to take over the world

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for Machiavellian
  1. immoral
  2. ruthless
  3. corrupt
  4. unscrupulous
  5. unprincipled
Adjective
  • And in a world increasingly populated by people who are absolutely certain that everyone who disagrees with them is either ignorant or immoral, our universities could use considerably more of all three.
    — Rabbi Bruce D. Forman, Sun Sentinel, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Central to the exhibition is the tension between the honorable and the immoral, the appealing and the revolting.
    — News Desk, Artforum, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of immoral
Adjective
  • The rest would kill her just for being her mother’s daughter—like Xaden Riorson, the most powerful and ruthless wingleader in the Riders Quadrant.
    — Lexy Perez, HollywoodReporter, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Facinelli plays the Boss, a ruthless figure whose cash ends up in the pool hustler’s hands, and intends to get it back, one way or another.
    — Zac Ntim, Deadline, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of ruthless
Adjective
  • The most egregious perpetrators of fraud in the industry were corrupt doctors who were paid by patients to send insurance companies medical examination reports that omitted unfavorable findings.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 20 Oct. 2026
  • That unaffordability, Talarico argued at the nighttime rally in Texas that was packed with younger voters, is because billionaires and corrupt politicians have rigged the system.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of corrupt
Adjective
  • The district judge confined Biddy and most of the Black children in the county jail, ostensibly for their own protection from their unscrupulous enslaver.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Far from a local problem Some patients travel outside their home state to receive treatment, and unscrupulous rehab operators often recruit such patients.
    — Ilan Shrira, The Conversation, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of unscrupulous
Adjective
  • That doesn't enable cunning and unprincipled men to subvert the power of the people.
    — Lori A Bashian , Larry Fink, FOXNews.com, 30 June 2026
  • Ditto his despicable aides and Cabinet members, his unprincipled sycophants and suck-ups.
    — Robert B. Reich, Hartford Courant, 9 June 2026
Definition of unprincipled
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Browse Nearby Words

machetes
Machiavellian
machinate
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Cite this Entry

“Machiavellian.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/Machiavellian. Accessed 26 Oct. 2026.

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