1
2
as in complicity
a secret agreement or cooperation between two parties for an illegal or dishonest purpose
a conspiracy among the leading manufacturers to fix prices
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in scheme
a secret plan for accomplishing evil or unlawful ends
several generals were engaged in a conspiracy to overthrow the government
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of conspiracy
But Lemon was eventually arrested in late January after a federal grand jury returned an indictment against him and eight others on charges of conspiracy against the rights of religious freedom at a place of worship and interfering with the exercise of the right of religious freedom.
—
Ryan J. Reilly, NBC news, 27 Feb. 2026
Ahmed, who created the show, enmeshes his character in a Pakistani British context—and a Bondian conspiracy.
—Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 27 Feb. 2026
Kareem Pires, 27, of Wareham, pleaded guilty in federal court in Providence, Rhode Island, to conspiracy to tamper with a witness or informant by killing or attempting to kill in connection with a murder-for-hire plot.
—Flint McColgan, Boston Herald, 27 Feb. 2026
Kyle Peters, Josh Teigen being sued for breach of contract, conspiracy, among others.
—Angela George, Sioux Falls Argus Leader, 27 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for conspiracy
Ryan J. Reilly, NBC news, 27 Feb. 2026
Ahmed, who created the show, enmeshes his character in a Pakistani British context—and a Bondian conspiracy.
—Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 27 Feb. 2026
Kareem Pires, 27, of Wareham, pleaded guilty in federal court in Providence, Rhode Island, to conspiracy to tamper with a witness or informant by killing or attempting to kill in connection with a murder-for-hire plot.
—Flint McColgan, Boston Herald, 27 Feb. 2026
Kyle Peters, Josh Teigen being sued for breach of contract, conspiracy, among others.
—Angela George, Sioux Falls Argus Leader, 27 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for conspiracy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for conspiracy
Noun
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The series follows the Black Mafia Family in Detroit and is based on a true story.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
16 Aug. 2025
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On the surface, the crime drama follows the rise and fall of the Black Mafia Family — one of the most influential crime families in the country.—
Kayla Grant,
People.com,
16 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Throughout these years, Ma began to feel an increasing sense of remorse at his complicity in this system, which sparked deeper soul-searching around his identity as a Muslim, and what that meant within Chinese society.—
Rebecca Wright,
CNN Money,
27 Feb. 2026
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Keasia Tyson, 27; Davion Birdsong, 19; Chance Guthrie, 18; D’Montray Rox, 20; and the minor were charged with murder (complicity), assault (complicity) and two counts of wanton endangerment (complicity).—
Caroline Neal,
Louisville Courier Journal,
26 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Through these backdoor billing schemes, bad actors can bypass the screening process designed to prevent them from collecting reimbursements directly.—
Mia Cathell,
The Washington Examiner,
27 Feb. 2026
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The indictment alleges that false and fraudulent records were provided as part of the scheme, and that none of the money was used for the intended purpose.—
Paula Wethington,
CBS News,
27 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Investigators learned that a majority of the suspects were active-duty Navy and that many were associated with criminal street gangs, official said.—
Caleb Lunetta,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
26 Feb. 2026
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The final months of Dati’s tenure were marked by the infamous jewellery heist at the Louvre Museum in October in which a four-person gang made off with $100M worth of jewellery including items that had belonged to Napoleon.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
26 Feb. 2026
Noun
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In addition, Mexico’s criminal economy has steadily grown, often with the collusion of local officials.—
Mary Beth Sheridan,
CNN Money,
24 Feb. 2026
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Kim is formally arrested over his alleged collusion with Yoon and others in imposing martial law.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
19 Feb. 2026
Noun
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But last year’s real-life conclave was just as dramatic, with plenty of plot twists, political battles among cardinals and a surprise outcome.—
Christopher Lamb,
CNN Money,
1 Mar. 2026
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Against that real history, the building’s ghost stories feel more like colorful footnotes than the main plot.—
David Caraccio,
Sacbee.com,
28 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Labor and trade groups, including a national retirees syndicate, have issued statements condemning the economic and political crisis.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
14 Feb. 2026
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The syndicate called for the government to launch a comprehensive national survey of buildings at risk of collapse.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
8 Feb. 2026
Noun
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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
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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
Cite this Entry
“Conspiracy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/conspiracy. Accessed 5 Mar. 2026.
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