conspire

verb

kən-ˈspī(-ə)r How to pronounce conspire (audio)
Definition of conspirenext
1
as in to plot
to engage in a secret plan to accomplish evil or unlawful ends conspired to replace the leader with someone more easily influenced

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in to cooperate
to participate or assist in a joint effort to accomplish an end foul weather and airline foul-ups seemed to be conspiring to ruin our vacation

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 conspire The Steiners sued eBay and the defendants in 2021, alleging that the company conspired to intimidate and silence them because of their journalism. — Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 29 July 2026 Behind the scenes, Foote and the Avalanche had conspired to get this deal done. — Sean McIndoe, New York Times, 25 July 2026 These men all conspire in dark rooms as the people continue to starve. — Charles Lewis Iii, Mercury News, 24 July 2026 Four South Florida men found guilty in May of conspiring with ex-Colombian soldiers to assassinate Haiti’s president, Jovenel Moïse, will be sentenced in early February 2027, according to a Miami federal judge’s order on Friday. — Jay Weaver july 24, Miami Herald, 24 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for conspire
Recent Examples of Synonyms for conspire
  1. plot
  2. cooperate
  3. scheme
  4. collaborate
  5. unite
Verb
  • The Voyagers have been skirting this dismal fate for years now, with NASA engineers carefully monitoring each spacecraft’s power supplies and plotting out when to turn off individual instruments to keep the missions going as long as possible.
    — Meghan Bartels, Scientific American, 7 Aug. 2026
  • While this reunion was happening, Juke was watching from a safe distance, plotting.
    — Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of plot
Verb
  • Hicks said detectives are working to determine Williams' motives, and said the suspect's family was cooperating fully with law enforcement.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 2 Aug. 2026
  • In September, Brun and an associate sold meth directly to a source cooperating with the detail.
    — Guthrie Scrimgeour, Rolling Stone, 2 Aug. 2026
Definition of cooperate
Verb
  • Shanahan schemed up multiple 100-yard games for Kendrick Bourne, and even journeyman Demarcus Robinson had 111 yards in the playoffs against the Eagles — neither receiver had a 100-yard game since 2022.
    — Ted Nguyen, New York Times, 29 July 2026
  • Corey Hawkins as Polybus Polybus is another one of Penelope’s many suitors who scheme to take her hand and kingdoms for themselves.
    — Hannah Abraham, Forbes.com, 18 July 2026
Definition of scheme
Verb
  • In the meantime, the companies could collaborate on incident investigation, come up with industrywide safety standards and regulate themselves before governments do, Corridor's Stamos said.
    — Huo Jingnan, NPR, 1 Aug. 2026
  • Olivia Rodrigo has collaborated with LEGO on five new building sets, including minifigures of the singer, based on the the Grammy-winning artist’s music.
    — Tim Lammers, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of collaborate
Verb
  • Kemp and Jackson united at the Georgia Chamber’s annual congressional luncheon for the first time since Jackson’s party-rattling primary win.
    — AJ Willingham, AJC.com, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Right’s multiculturalism Meanwhile, the American right was increasingly united less by biological notions of race and more by opposition to multiculturalism, feminism, LGBTQ+ rights, immigration and liberalism.
    — Eladio Bobadilla, Mercury News, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of unite

Browse Nearby Words

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conspire
conspired
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Cite this Entry

“Conspire.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/conspire. Accessed 9 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on conspire

Nglish: Translation of conspire for Spanish Speakers

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