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
Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 30 Jan. 2026
In the larger scheme of things, this is an example of a good internal boundary.
—Hope Hunt, Baltimore Sun, 30 Jan. 2026
Erin Clack, PEOPLE, 26 Jan. 2026
Petzing should be able to scheme things open for LaPorta the way Johnson did.
—Colton Pouncy, New York Times, 22 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for scheme
Noun
The scheme was unveiled last year by Cate Blanchett and the International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR)’s Hubert Bals Fund.
—Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 30 Jan. 2026
In the larger scheme of things, this is an example of a good internal boundary.
—Hope Hunt, Baltimore Sun, 30 Jan. 2026
Verb
Joy Randolph, follows a desperate gallery owner (Portman) who schemes to sell a dead man as art at Art Basel in Miami.
—Erin Clack, PEOPLE, 26 Jan. 2026
Petzing should be able to scheme things open for LaPorta the way Johnson did.
—Colton Pouncy, New York Times, 22 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for scheme
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scheme
Noun
-
Seth Rollins has been out with a legitimate injury, but after his ruse to win at SummerSlam, anything is possible with him.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
30 Jan. 2026
-
Federal agents are currently roaming cities under the ruse of going after murderers and rapists but are instead pulling anyone who doesn't fit their idea of what an American looks like out of cars, homes and schools using thuggish methods.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
22 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Prosecutors charged Lemon with conspiracy to deprive rights and a FACE Act violation stemming from his involvement in an anti-ICE protest that disrupted church services in Minnesota.—
Greg Wehner,
FOXNews.com,
1 Feb. 2026
-
So far, Becerra’s former chief of staff Sean McCluskie and Sacramento lobbyist Greg Campbell have pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire and bank fraud.—
Susan Shelley,
Oc Register,
1 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Many residents in Minnesota are doubtful of Homan’s claim that federal immigration authorities are preparing a drawdown plan for law enforcement in the state.—
Alaa Elassar,
CNN Money,
2 Feb. 2026
-
The philanthropy started by Bill and Melinda French Gates will shutter in 2045 and has plans to make a record $9 billion in donations this year while remaining primarily focused on health care and disease research.—
Sydney Lake,
Fortune,
1 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
In early May, with United due to host arch-rivals Liverpool in the Premier League during a time in which Covid-19 restrictions meant fans were not allowed into stadiums, supporters plotted a huge protest around one of the most high-profile fixtures in English football.—
Chris McKenna,
New York Times,
1 Feb. 2026
-
But commenters were also fascinated by a series of colorful graphs plotting dose-response curves for individual types of exercise, purporting to show that walking is the best, jogging is good but not too much, swimming is no good at all, and so on.—
Alex Hutchinson,
Outside,
30 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
So much grunt routes through a trick all-wheel-drive system that actually uses a two-speed gearbox ahead of the engine between the front wheels, in addition to a more traditional eight-speed dual-clutch transaxle routing power to the rears.—
Michael Teo Van Runkle,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
-
Our mother figures and friends can serve as the best sources of inspiration for beauty tips and tricks, thanks to many years of trial and error.—
Kaitlyn Yarborough,
Southern Living,
29 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
With the benefit of hindsight, analysts and investors have blamed much of Kraft Heinz’s downward spiral on the brutal cost-cutting strategy imposed after the merger.—
Amelia Lucas,
CNBC,
31 Jan. 2026
-
There are other factors that contribute to layoffs aside from new technology, like overhiring, the state of the economy and a shift in corporate strategy.—
Lisa Eadicicco,
CNN Money,
31 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Arm's chip designs power most of the world's smartphones and are increasingly used in AI data centers and edge computing devices.—
Dylan Butts,
CNBC,
5 Feb. 2026
-
Such devices generally consist of alternating layers of p- and n-type semiconductors connected in series.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
5 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Heavy investment in player salaries has been part of Liverpool’s blueprint for years.—
Chris Weatherspoon,
New York Times,
4 Feb. 2026
-
For that, Timbers and the team found the original blueprints from 1976.—
Carlos Aguilar,
Los Angeles Times,
4 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Scheme.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scheme. Accessed 6 Feb. 2026.
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