as in plotted
to engage in a secret plan to accomplish evil or unlawful ends
accused of colluding to block the sale of the vacant land
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Recent Examples of colluded
How everyone got to this point The original indictment, unsealed in November, detailed how Clase had allegedly colluded with bettors to predetermine at least nine pitches, dating to May 2023.
—
Zack Meisel, New York Times, 7 Mar. 2026
An intelligence report presented to Kenya’s Parliament last month by majority leader Kimani Ichung’wah said Kenyan and Russian government officials colluded with recruitment agencies to lure Kenyans to the front lines.
—ABC News, 5 Mar. 2026
The Michigan attorney general’s office alleges the companies have colluded since at least 1980 to maintain reliance on fossil fuels.
—Taylor Millard, Boston Herald, 28 Feb. 2026
Former Chicago Bulls player Antonio Blakeney allegedly colluded with Marvis Fairley and Shane Hennen to fix CBA games.
—Ross O'Keefe, The Washington Examiner, 16 Jan. 2026
To defeat the threat of a surging left, businessmen and nationalists colluded to countenance domestic culture wars, xenophobic nationalism, the erosion of constitutional norms, and outright violence, ultimately naming Hitler, a vulgar racist, as national executive.
—Foreign Affairs, 16 Dec. 2025
The complaint goes on to allege that during the tenure of Viktor Yanukovych, senior officials of the National Bank of Ukraine colluded in the theft of funds from Ukraine.
—Olena Loginova, Miami Herald, 7 Nov. 2025
According to the movie, closely adapted by Roman Polanski from a 1967 novel by Ira Levin, Guy has colluded with the neighbors to have Rosemary raped and impregnated by Satan.
—Sophie Gilbert, The Atlantic, 30 Oct. 2025
In October that same year, Kaepernick sued the NFL, alleging that owners had colluded to keep him out of the league.
—Eric Adler, Kansas City Star, 22 Sep. 2025
Zack Meisel, New York Times, 7 Mar. 2026
An intelligence report presented to Kenya’s Parliament last month by majority leader Kimani Ichung’wah said Kenyan and Russian government officials colluded with recruitment agencies to lure Kenyans to the front lines.
—ABC News, 5 Mar. 2026
The Michigan attorney general’s office alleges the companies have colluded since at least 1980 to maintain reliance on fossil fuels.
—Taylor Millard, Boston Herald, 28 Feb. 2026
Former Chicago Bulls player Antonio Blakeney allegedly colluded with Marvis Fairley and Shane Hennen to fix CBA games.
—Ross O'Keefe, The Washington Examiner, 16 Jan. 2026
To defeat the threat of a surging left, businessmen and nationalists colluded to countenance domestic culture wars, xenophobic nationalism, the erosion of constitutional norms, and outright violence, ultimately naming Hitler, a vulgar racist, as national executive.
—Foreign Affairs, 16 Dec. 2025
The complaint goes on to allege that during the tenure of Viktor Yanukovych, senior officials of the National Bank of Ukraine colluded in the theft of funds from Ukraine.
—Olena Loginova, Miami Herald, 7 Nov. 2025
According to the movie, closely adapted by Roman Polanski from a 1967 novel by Ira Levin, Guy has colluded with the neighbors to have Rosemary raped and impregnated by Satan.
—Sophie Gilbert, The Atlantic, 30 Oct. 2025
In October that same year, Kaepernick sued the NFL, alleging that owners had colluded to keep him out of the league.
—Eric Adler, Kansas City Star, 22 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for colluded
plotted
Verb
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At a retreat in Florida, the House GOP plotted its next steps — but the path ahead is murky, and elections are looming.—
Marianna Sotomayor,
Washington Post,
11 Mar. 2026
-
Reuters/Elijah Nouvelage Authorities say the teen carefully plotted the shooting at his Barrow County high school, including allegedly leaving a notebook with handwritten instructions detailing the steps to prepare for the violence and a diagram of his classroom.—
Dan Raby,
CBS News,
3 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Colluded.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/colluded. Accessed 19 Mar. 2026.
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