CONNIVING Synonyms: 78 Similar and Opposite Words

conniving 1 of 2

noun

Definition of conniving next

as in connivance

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conniving

2 of 2

verb

present participle of connive

as in winking

to secretly sympathize with or pretend ignorance of something improper or unlawful the principal connived at all the school absences that were recorded on the day of the city's celebration of its Super Bowl victory

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in plotting

to engage in a secret plan to accomplish evil or unlawful ends suspects that his coworkers are conniving to get him fired

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Example Sentences

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.

Recent Examples of conniving

Noun

The problem was Grossbart, whose conniving seemed to corroborate the worst stereotypes about the Jewish people — and so soon after the Shoah. —

Andrew Ridker, Vulture, 10 Nov. 2025

Verb

Jackson is depicted as conniving and quick to use his wealth and fame to overwhelm the family. —

Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 24 Apr. 2026 That twist makes Frank both sympathetic and conniving, and Bale does a good job letting both aspects of his complex performance come through. —

Tim Grierson, Vulture, 7 Mar. 2026 The alluring but conniving Ciara (Dove Cameron) or that sexy brooder with the best wild locks ever, Oliver (Avan Jogia)? —

Randy Myers, Mercury News, 5 Mar. 2026 Whitney, one of the most smarmy, conniving characters written into the entirety of the show, was one of Micay’s favorites to bring to life through the soundtrack. —

Kiana Mickles, Pitchfork, 2 Mar. 2026 The actress played the conniving Abby Ewing on the CBS primetime soap opera for much of the '80s. —

Raechal Shewfelt, Entertainment Weekly, 16 Feb. 2026 Through his conniving, Heathcliff comes to own both properties. —

Natasha O'Neill, Vanity Fair, 13 Feb. 2026 Her excellent work goes unappreciated, except when a conniving colleague, Donovan (Xavier Samuel), takes credit for it. —

Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 26 Jan. 2026 The characters here, though, are nowhere near so smart as those conniving pagans and can only dream of outwitting the sophisticated folk from the mainland, coming there with their talk of cake, and comfy chairs, and their lies. —

Damon Wise, Deadline, 22 Jan. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for conniving

Noun

Individuals and groups have often accused the U.S. government of denying their rights, and some of those accusations were irrefutable—as in the century between Appomattox and Selma, when the rights of Black Americans were denied throughout the South with the connivance of Washington.

— George Packer, The Atlantic, 27 Jan. 2026
But widespread disgust with the mayor’s mendacity and the connivance of eight City Council members is changing the political landscape.

— U T Readers, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Dec. 2025