1
as in ruse
a clever often underhanded means to achieve an end
an e-mail scheme to trick unwary Internet users into disclosing passwords and financial information
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2
as in conspiracy
a secret plan for accomplishing evil or unlawful ends
a scheme to kidnap the president's daughter
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3
as in plan
a method worked out in advance for achieving some objective
a scheme to upgrade the city's mass transit system
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as in to plot
to engage in a secret plan to accomplish evil or unlawful ends
the town inspector had schemed to overlook the contractor's code violations in exchange for a substantial bribe
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of scheme
Emily Blackwood, PEOPLE, 26 Sep. 2025
In Hit Man, co-written with Richard Linklater, the Glen Powell character uses a very, very small quantity of latex (and some wigs) to … go undercover with the police to thwart murder-for-hire schemes, becoming a more confident man in the process.
—Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 26 Sep. 2025
Borys Kit, HollywoodReporter, 22 Sep. 2025
In a game where the Cowboys needed to scheme some more running lanes without starting center Cooper Beebe, the offensive coordinator hire of Klayton Adams has proved to be valuable in the Schottenheimer system.
—Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for scheme
Noun
However, when his money laundering scheme lost the cartel millions of dollars, he was stuck with a web of debt and in the middle of an FBI investigation, per the official synopsis.
—Emily Blackwood, PEOPLE, 26 Sep. 2025
In Hit Man, co-written with Richard Linklater, the Glen Powell character uses a very, very small quantity of latex (and some wigs) to … go undercover with the police to thwart murder-for-hire schemes, becoming a more confident man in the process.
—Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 26 Sep. 2025
Verb
On Peacemaker, the DC Studios show whose second season is currently mid-stream on HBO Max, Brooks plays Leota Adebayo, the daughter of the scheming Amanda Waller.
—Borys Kit, HollywoodReporter, 22 Sep. 2025
In a game where the Cowboys needed to scheme some more running lanes without starting center Cooper Beebe, the offensive coordinator hire of Klayton Adams has proved to be valuable in the Schottenheimer system.
—Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for scheme
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scheme
Noun
-
Jean’s mama saw through the ruse but misread it.—
David Wright Faladé,
New Yorker,
28 Sep. 2025
-
Posing as a door-to-door accountant looking for clients just before noon Thursday, Suresh knocked on several doors to cover up his ruse before arriving at the victim’s house, according to police.—
Kyle Martin,
Mercury News,
24 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Although the incidents were, on paper, entirely separate, Skeet and his allies believed they were linked and evidence of a conspiracy, orchestrated by Brandon and his allies, to remove them from power in the county.—
Mitch Moxley,
Rolling Stone,
27 Sep. 2025
-
But those on higher floors live better than those on lower floors, so drama and conspiracy run wild.—
Keith Langston,
PEOPLE,
27 Sep. 2025
Noun
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His plan is to pose as a Fish & Wildlife agent, there to question Catalina’s husband about poaching … and then what?—
Amanda Whiting,
Vulture,
1 Oct. 2025
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Here's how Nike's quarterly performance fits into CEO Elliott Hill's broader turnaround plan.—
Alex Harring,
CNBC,
1 Oct. 2025
Verb
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However, the game rights change is contingent on the larger ESPN-NFL deal passing Department of Justice review, which seems increasingly unlikely to come before the NFL plots its 2026 calendar.—
Jacob Feldman,
Sportico.com,
29 Sep. 2025
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Well, on one hand, Annie was already plotting against Jake and Alex.—
Dalton Ross,
Entertainment Weekly,
25 Sep. 2025
Noun
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On September 10, when several Russian drones breached Poland’s airspace, NATO aircraft were scrambled to intercept and shoot down some of the devices.—
Robert Birsel,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Oct. 2025
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Buy Eli Lilly and Johnson & Johnson , which is breaking out because of its devices and cancer franchise.—
Jim Cramer,
CNBC,
1 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Its strategy was similar to the fight against Mexican cartels and Colombian narcoguerillas.—
T. Christian Miller,
ProPublica,
30 Sep. 2025
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Each issue is filled with breaking news, deep insights, and exclusive strategies for becoming a better traveler.—
Christopher Elliott,
USA Today,
29 Sep. 2025
Noun
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The most exciting feature is the realistic mask, though, which has mesh eyes for kids to see through while trick-or-treating, and an adjustable strap to fit their head properly.—
Katrina Cossey,
Parents,
1 Oct. 2025
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Perhaps most frustrating, two Johnson attempts to dig into his trick bag misfired.—
Dan Wiederer,
New York Times,
30 Sep. 2025
Noun
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This is a sister organization to the Heritage Foundation, the think tank behind Project 2025—a sweeping conservative policy blueprint aimed at reshaping the federal government by expanding presidential power, dismantling parts of the civil service, and rolling back regulations across agencies.—
Martha McHardy,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Oct. 2025
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Keep scrolling to shop more cross-waist jeans, black tank tops, and blazers inspired by Taylor Swift’s outfit blueprint below.—
Averi Baudler,
PEOPLE,
30 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Scheme.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scheme. Accessed 2 Oct. 2025.
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