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as in Mafia
a group involved in secret or criminal activities members of the conspiracy recognized each other by a secret handshake

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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

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Synonym Chooser

How does the noun conspiracy differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of conspiracy are cabal, intrigue, machination, and plot. While all these words mean "a plan secretly devised to accomplish an evil or treacherous end," conspiracy implies a secret agreement among several people usually involving treason or great treachery.

a conspiracy to fix prices

When would cabal be a good substitute for conspiracy?

The synonyms cabal and conspiracy are sometimes interchangeable, but cabal typically applies to political intrigue involving persons of some eminence.

a cabal among powerful senators

When might intrigue be a better fit than conspiracy?

While the synonyms intrigue and conspiracy are close in meaning, intrigue suggests secret underhanded maneuvering in an atmosphere of duplicity.

backstairs intrigue

In what contexts can machination take the place of conspiracy?

In some situations, the words machination and conspiracy are roughly equivalent. However, machination implies a contriving of annoyances, injuries, or evils by indirect means.

the machinations of a party boss

When is it sensible to use plot instead of conspiracy?

While in some cases nearly identical to conspiracy, plot implies careful foresight in planning a complex scheme.

an assassination plot

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 conspiracy Haley was also convicted of conspiracy to witness tampering and violating Nichols’ civil rights causing bodily injury but was acquitted of the more severe charge of violating Nichols’ civil rights causing death. Elizabeth Wolfe, CNN Money, 8 May 2025 Both are charged with conspiracy, murder for hire, solicitation to commit a crime of violence, interstate stalking, firearm offenses and witness tampering. Jay Weaver, Miami Herald, 7 May 2025 While trying to unspool the conspiracy of Josh's abduction with Kira, the pair find evidence that Kynch, a veteran who served in Afghanistan before getting injured, covertly delivered intel to Taliban forces during the war. Randall Colburn, EW.com, 6 May 2025 The jury acquitted her on three other charges: conspiracy to commit criminal impersonation, criminal impersonation and identity theft. Martha McHardy, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for conspiracy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for conspiracy
Noun
  • Each of the 18 were members of Zoe Mafia Family (ZMF), a South Florida Haitian gang; a group known as the 3rd World gang; and multiple different sects of the national Bloods gang, prosecutors said in a news release.
    Angie DiMichele, Sun Sentinel, 17 May 2025
  • The three-day festival will feature an eclectic lineup of artists including Wallen, Brooks & Dunn, HARDY, Riley Green, Three 6 Mafia, Wiz Khalifa, Ella Langley, Treaty Oak Revival and more.
    Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 16 May 2025
Noun
  • Jackson's level of complicity in the Black Sox scandal remains a point of contention.
    CBS News, CBS News, 13 May 2025
  • The others are charged with complicity in the heist or the unauthorized possession of a weapon.
    Juliette Jabkhiro, USA Today, 13 May 2025
Noun
  • Hometown’s stock price rose by more than 900% during the scheme.
    Dan Mangan, CNBC, 13 May 2025
  • In 2021 and 2022, Robinson received about $76,000 through the bogus billing scheme, according to prosecutors.
    Douglas Hanks, Miami Herald, 13 May 2025
Noun
  • Jung will play a former youth boxing champion turned gang member, who is seeking redemption as a small-town boxing coach.
    Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 14 May 2025
  • When all four women are arrested for drug use, they are bailed out by a local drug dealer named Alien (Franco) and quickly become embroiled in Alien's turf wars with other gang members in the area.
    Tommy McArdle, People.com, 14 May 2025
Noun
  • Early in his first term, in May 2017, Trump fired Comey, who as FBI director had been leading an investigation into the Trump 2016 presidential campaign's possible collusion with Russia to help Trump get elected.
    Josh Meyer, USA Today, 16 May 2025
  • Congressional Republicans repeatedly peppered Maher and Kruger with accusations regarding their coverage of the COVID-19 origins lab leak theory, Russian collusion, and Hunter Biden’s laptop.
    Brian Stelter, CNN Money, 26 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • The more than 2 million people who attended Lady Gaga’s free concert on Copacabana Beach on May 3, 2025, had no idea of a plot that, if successful, would have turned the event into a tragedy fueled by hate.
    Arthur Coelho Bezerra, The Conversation, 14 May 2025
  • From people on TikTok discussing the lavender marriages in their own families to the plot of the 2025 Wedding Banquet remake starring Lily Gladstone and Bowen Yang, the ways that people have sought to survive broader societal homophobia are top of mind for many LGBTQ+ people today.
    Mikelle Street, Them., 14 May 2025
Noun
  • This will be the first time Italy has ever hosted the America’s Cup, despite Italian syndicate Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli fielding strong teams in multiple events.
    Michael Verdon, Robb Report, 16 May 2025
  • To recap, at the end of season 1, Charlie wrapped up her ongoing conflict with the Frost Casino and its boss... only to find herself in the crosshairs of a different crime syndicate, run by Beatrix.
    EW.com, EW.com, 13 May 2025
Noun
  • The arrests were part of wide-ranging Establishment attacks on the new generation of pop stars in Britain at the time, done through connivance with informers and a hostile conservative media.
    Bill Wyman, Vulture, 30 Jan. 2025
  • Of course, this was done with the connivance of politicians.
    Vera Bergengruen/Buenos Aires, TIME, 23 May 2024

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Cite this Entry

“Conspiracy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/conspiracy. Accessed 27 May. 2025.

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