as in intrigue
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Recent Examples of counterplot
Don Aucoin, BostonGlobe.com, 31 July 2019
There’s something comforting about the normalcy of plot and counterplot, action and intrigue.
—Mike Hale, New York Times, 13 Jan. 2017
Noun
Bit by bit, the castle at Elsinore (broodingly rendered by scenic designer Lee Savage) turns into a stage for life-and-death plots and counterplots.
—Don Aucoin, BostonGlobe.com, 31 July 2019
There’s something comforting about the normalcy of plot and counterplot, action and intrigue.
—Mike Hale, New York Times, 13 Jan. 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for counterplot
Noun
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There was some initial confusion about exactly how the accident transpired, how far the two men were from each other at the time, and a delay in the Secret Service calling an ambulance, fueling intrigue in the story.—
Shane Croucher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 Nov. 2025
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While the Spotify numbers and numerous headlines in the press suggest intrigue and growth, West End Girl is far from a chart-topper yet.—
Ethan Millman,
HollywoodReporter,
4 Nov. 2025
Verb
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His original, undoctored manuscript even suggests that James might have plotted to have Elizabeth assassinated.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
4 Nov. 2025
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Curves plotting model performance against size have begun flattening out.—
James Somers,
New Yorker,
3 Nov. 2025
Noun
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There was even a final machination aimed at rattling the Venezuelan president about the pilot’s true loyalties.—
Joshua Goodman,
Fortune,
28 Oct. 2025
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The article took a more skeptical look at Springsteen’s rise, and the corporate machinations behind it.—
Andy Greene,
Rolling Stone,
27 Oct. 2025
Verb
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No Warriors were involved, but Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups — as well as Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier — was arrested and charged with scheming to rig underground poker games.—
Evan Webeck,
Mercury News,
24 Oct. 2025
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There is no magic elixir to consistently scheme easy buckets in the final minutes of contests.—
Jace Frederick,
Twin Cities,
23 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The story then unfolded through the subterfuge of the princess and the care of Morton.—
Simon Perry,
PEOPLE,
28 Oct. 2025
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Unlike the confrontational drudgery of couples therapy — and aiming to avoid the confrontational finality of divorce — this approach relies on subterfuge.—
Sheri Linden,
HollywoodReporter,
23 Oct. 2025
Verb
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He was accused of conspiring to fix games to benefit gamblers and later spent 15 months in federal prison because of it.—
Chris Biderman,
Sacbee.com,
25 Oct. 2025
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He was charged with conspiring to fix high-stakes card games in Las Vegas, Miami, Manhattan and the Hamptons that were backed by Mafia families.—
David Goodhue,
Miami Herald,
24 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Jones, now 22, pleaded guilty to manslaughter, conspiracy and two weapons offenses.—
Liam Quinn,
PEOPLE,
26 Oct. 2025
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But last week, the company was declared a transnational criminal organization by United States authorities, and Chen was charged in absentia in New York with money laundering conspiracy and wire fraud conspiracy, along with several associates.—
Helen Regan,
CNN Money,
25 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The mystery is less about who’s involved in the game afoot, as alert audiences piecing together context clues will be immediately aware of those nefarious parties upon their introductions, and is more about the puzzling lengths the filmmakers go to in planting contrived red herrings.—
Courtney Howard,
Variety,
9 Oct. 2025
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Even if parts of the individual storylines still come across as contrived or at least dramatically convenient, the ending reminds and underlines that these things, and things far worse, happened in Israel on October 7, 2023.—
Daniel Fienberg,
HollywoodReporter,
7 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Counterplot.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/counterplot. Accessed 6 Nov. 2025.
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