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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

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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

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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 Both face charges of murder and conspiracy to commit murder, police said. Don Sweeney, Sacbee.com, 9 Oct. 2025 But that conspiracy tends to manifest in the form of universal contemporary annoyances. Judy Berman, Time, 9 Oct. 2025 In February, the four-time Pro Bowler sued Hernandez and Brianna Mack for assault, trespassing, intentional infliction of emotional distress, conspiracy, and other allegations. Armon Sadler, VIBE.com, 8 Oct. 2025 The team's counterclaims include defamation, civil conspiracy, tortious interference and breach of contract. Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 7 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for conspiracy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for conspiracy
Noun
  • The series follows the Black Mafia Family in Detroit and is based on a true story.
    Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 16 Aug. 2025
  • 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
  • The writer became inspired to counteract his complicity in a corrupt system.
    David Fear, Rolling Stone, 2 Oct. 2025
  • Cultural norms around the practice and the complicity of local officials also hinder progress, according to the Centre for Reproductive Rights.
    Carlotta Dotto, CNN Money, 29 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Cornerback Jourdan Lewis has been playing at a high level, but Tyson Campbell didn’t look like a scheme fit, which might explain why he was recently traded along with a seventh-round pick for Greg Newsome and a sixth-round pick from the Cleveland Browns.
    Ted Nguyen, New York Times, 11 Oct. 2025
  • Other rural regions of Italy have had similar experiences and also launched similar schemes over the last several years with the goal of boosting development and combating depopulation.
    Kathleen Wong, USA Today, 10 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • The Four Corners of Death, at Euclid and Imperial avenues in San Diego, was the scene of gang warfare in the 1980s.
    Jan Goldsmith, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Oct. 2025
  • Back in Liverpool, tensions continue to bubble amongst the remaining members of the gang.
    Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 10 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Droney found there was no collusion, saying league officials presenting economic information to owners is not indicative of collusion.
    Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 2 Sep. 2025
  • In the United Kingdom, regulators warned that AI systems used in energy markets could unintentionally enable tacit collusion between suppliers.
    Gopinath Kathiresan, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • Every time the plot hits the reset button, the tension flatlines.
    Justin Chang, New Yorker, 14 Oct. 2025
  • Jones had asserted that the shootings were staged as part of a federal plot to confiscate Americans’ guns.
    Ted Johnson, Deadline, 14 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Buford spent years immersing himself in the world of British hooligan soccer syndicates.
    Ed Lavandera, CNN Money, 11 Oct. 2025
  • In the 2000s and 2010s, small funds and angel syndicates thrived.
    Roman Axelrod, Fortune, 8 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Or secretly despise his own connivance?
    Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 18 Sep. 2025
  • In addition, senior executives could be held personally liable when offences involve their consent, connivance or neglect.
    Jamie Hailstone, Forbes.com, 29 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Conspiracy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/conspiracy. Accessed 16 Oct. 2025.

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