Synonyms of conniving

conniving 1 of 2

noun

as in connivance

Related Words

• connivance
• collusion
• complicity
• strategy
• ground plan
• cabal
• manipulation
• subterfuge
• stratagem
• racket
• system
• conspiration
• confederacy
• program
• trickery
• maneuver
• gimmick
• contrivance
• dodge
• game
• ring
• cover-up
• machination
• trick
• draft
• intrigue
• artifice
• frame-up
• conspiracy
• counterplot
• scheme
• counterconspiracy
• plot
• design

conniving

2 of 2

verb

present participle of connive

1

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• winking
• ignoring
• tolerating
• forgiving
• disregarding
• condoning
• overlooking
• excusing
• brushing (aside or off)
• passing over
• pardoning
• glossing (over)
• shrugging off
• glozing (over)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• denying
• refusing
• frowning (on or upon)
• disapproving (of)
• disallowing

2

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• plotting
• scheming
• conspiring
• intriguing
• planning
• colluding
• contriving
• machinating
• devising
• hatching
• manipulating
• engineering
• compassing
• concocting
• putting up
• maneuvering
• cooking (up)
• jockeying
• designing
• counterplotting
• brewing
• shaping
• mapping
• framing
• laying out

Example Sentences

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

Armand tries on personalities — clingy boyfriend, conniving mastermind — and flocks to love interests like new rock star Lestat goes through vats of body glitter. — Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 1 July 2026

Produced by Guy Ritchie, MobLand stars Hardy as Harry Da Souza, the loyal fixer for the Harrigan crime family, which is led by powerful patriarch Conrad (Pierce Brosnan) and his conniving wife, Maeve (Helen Mirren). — Derek Lawrence, Entertainment Weekly, 30 June 2026

Their rivals were a candid, impudent pair, the schoolgirlish Shakira and a throaty American bottle-service girl named Toni, both incapable of conniving their way into romance, prone to heartbreak, and swiftly ostracized for their overt judgment of other islanders. — Lillian Fishman, New Yorker, 27 June 2026

Daemon is one of the most clever, cunning and conniving characters in House of the Dragon, who always seems to have the upper hand. — Skyler Trepel, PEOPLE, 22 June 2026

According to the footage, what awaits Rhaenyra during her reign are fearful subjects, conniving enemies, sleepless nights and plenty of anguish. — Tracy Brown, Los Angeles Times, 29 May 2026

Jackson is depicted as conniving and quick to use his wealth and fame to overwhelm the family. — Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 24 Apr. 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