1
as in Mafias
a group involved in secret or criminal activities
members of the conspiracy recognized each other by a secret handshake
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2
as in complicities
a secret agreement or cooperation between two parties for an illegal or dishonest purpose
a conspiracy among the leading manufacturers to fix prices
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3
as in schemes
a secret plan for accomplishing evil or unlawful ends
several generals were engaged in a conspiracy to overthrow the government
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of conspiracies
The sites mix factual assertions about their targets with unsubstantiated conspiracies and defamatory claims of misconduct ranging from extortion and embezzlement to drug dealing and prostitution.
—
Gary Baum, HollywoodReporter, 30 Apr. 2026
In recognition of its work, the organization’s offices have been firebombed and its personnel have been targeted by conspiracies to commit violence.
—Clarence Page, Chicago Tribune, 27 Apr. 2026
The operation primarily centered around false and often bizarre claims about grand conspiracies and government wrongdoing.
—Rob Wile, NBC news, 20 Apr. 2026
Various media watchers have criticized One America News Network for airing false stories and conspiracies as news.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 10 Apr. 2026
But the nature of conspiracies has not.
—Derek Arnold, The Conversation, 6 Apr. 2026
Prosecutors accused Peters of stealing a Mesa County employee's security badge to help a man gain access to the county's voter systems to prove false conspiracies about the validity of the 2020 election results.
—Karissa Waddick, USA Today, 2 Apr. 2026
There is obviously a lot more going on, so leave your conspiracies and guesses to yourselves.
—Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 2 Apr. 2026
There are real conspiracies, and not every powerful entity has our best interests in mind.
—Mike Rothschild, Big Think, 31 Mar. 2026
Gary Baum, HollywoodReporter, 30 Apr. 2026
In recognition of its work, the organization’s offices have been firebombed and its personnel have been targeted by conspiracies to commit violence.
—Clarence Page, Chicago Tribune, 27 Apr. 2026
The operation primarily centered around false and often bizarre claims about grand conspiracies and government wrongdoing.
—Rob Wile, NBC news, 20 Apr. 2026
Various media watchers have criticized One America News Network for airing false stories and conspiracies as news.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 10 Apr. 2026
But the nature of conspiracies has not.
—Derek Arnold, The Conversation, 6 Apr. 2026
Prosecutors accused Peters of stealing a Mesa County employee's security badge to help a man gain access to the county's voter systems to prove false conspiracies about the validity of the 2020 election results.
—Karissa Waddick, USA Today, 2 Apr. 2026
There is obviously a lot more going on, so leave your conspiracies and guesses to yourselves.
—Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 2 Apr. 2026
There are real conspiracies, and not every powerful entity has our best interests in mind.
—Mike Rothschild, Big Think, 31 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for conspiracies
Noun
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With one year left and her throne on the line, Queen Mo — who is 39 — and her raven sidekick JoJo hatch increasingly desperate schemes.—
Todd Spangler,
Variety,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Vrabel is truly an expert in NFL defensive schemes AND finding the way to a woman's heart.—
Amber Harding OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
28 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The designation has since been renewed multiple times as the country faces a host of crises, including widespread violence by armed gangs, food insecurity, displacement and a leadership vacuum after the president was assassinated in 2021.—
Tami Luhby,
CNN Money,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Schoeman van Jaarsveld dedicated his life to protecting rhinos from poaching gangs in South Africa.—
Ryan Brennan
April 27,
Miami Herald,
27 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
And then there’s the daffy spectacle of the films themselves, with plots beholden to almost avant-garde manipulations of time, space, and reality.—
Hua Hsu,
New Yorker,
29 Apr. 2026
-
This sets up a bafflingly complex series of plots and counterplots that can’t quite disguise the fact that there only two people in the movie’s world with pockets deep enough to buy out the company.—
Damon Wise,
Deadline,
29 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Turner saw a huge opening in the television marketplace, a chance to supersede the ABC, NBC and CBS broadcast networks that only allotted half an hour for news at night.—
Brian Stelter,
CNN Money,
6 May 2026
-
Trucks operating in the middle mile of logistics networks move orders between centralized distribution facilities and last-mile delivery points.—
Eric Rosenbaum,
CNBC,
6 May 2026
Noun
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The rich textures and thick ambiance of The Eyes of Others are pure high modernist 1960s Italian cinema, but De Sica unfurls the film’s winding intrigues with a contemporary sense of suspense, carnality, and visual boldness.—
Zac Ntim,
Deadline,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Plus the balcony is useful for intrigues and gossiping about the people below, as seen at Lady Danbury’s ball in season one of Bridgerton.—
Bethy Squires,
Vulture,
12 Mar. 2026
Noun
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For one, the Madlanga Commission — set up to investigate whether criminal syndicates and political actors have burrowed into the police, intelligence, and prosecutorial services — is due to submit its interim report at the end of May.—
Tiisetso Motsoeneng,
semafor.com,
29 Apr. 2026
-
As with other criminal syndicates, the cartel has long oiled the gears of corruption with bribes.—
Steve Fisher,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Thomas Pynchon’s latest novel, Shadow Ticket, set in 1932 Milwaukee, takes place in a landscape of industrial ghosts, strike-breakers, fascist sympathizers and absurdist cabals.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 Dec. 2025
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With a story of secret cabals and a child born to rule, Dumont projects the nasty prejudices and bureaucratic rigors of local politics, the tangles of family allegiances, and the tender grunge of young lust into divine and diabolical clashes run from celestial and subterranean castles.—
JUSTIN CHANG,
New Yorker,
5 Dec. 2025
Noun
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However, the ruthless King Saran (Oscar nominee Chiwetel Ejiofor) has suppressed magic users and enacts a rule of terror, which Zelie hopes to end in order to reunite Orisha’s clans.—
Jordan Moreau,
Variety,
16 Apr. 2026
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After fighting to find their way back to one another, Henry and Julia were at the standing stones of Craig Na Dun, hoping to return to their own time, and Brian and Ellen’s romantic escape was interrupted as the 1715 Jacobite Rising began, thrusting the clans into war.—
Rosy Cordero,
Deadline,
16 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Conspiracies.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/conspiracies. Accessed 8 May. 2026.
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