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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On Sunday, there’s a World Cup debutant taking on a powerhouse, two dark horses meeting in Texas, and two matchups that have plenty of intrigue despite flying under the radar a little bit.—
Ben Church,
CNN Money,
14 June 2026
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Palace intrigue was at an all-time high.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
14 June 2026
Verb
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An engineer plots a well’s falling output, fits a curve, and projects it forward.—
Dara-Abasi Ita,
Forbes.com,
14 June 2026
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Hidden amongst them are the Werewolves, a secret set plotting to eliminate players one by one and steal the prize.—
Georg Szalai,
HollywoodReporter,
12 June 2026
Noun
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All of these machinations have been so alive in my head for so long.—
Natasha O'Neill,
Vanity Fair,
9 June 2026
-
Should Wiggins opt into the final season on his contract, he then could be subbed in for Herro in the machinations of a Giannis deal.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
6 June 2026
Verb
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The kids are savvy, scheming to avoid their parents.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
18 June 2026
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Nonetheless, the series evolves into an elaborate soap opera over its 39 episodes, with complex scheming characters opposing Utena, her relationship with Anthy serving as the lodestar that guides this tragedy towards its ambiguous conclusion.—
Wilson Chapman,
IndieWire,
12 June 2026
Noun
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There is a long history of subterfuge at World Cups — a long history of sharing injury information that isn’t exactly transparent or even accurate.—
Henry Bushnell,
New York Times,
17 June 2026
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If the Allies had had to postpone the invasion for the next moon-tide alignment later in the month, the subterfuge would have been exposed.—
Andrea Thompson,
Scientific American,
29 May 2026
Verb
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Many factors likely conspired to preserve the bones for millions of years, according to the study authors.—
Adithi Ramakrishnan,
Los Angeles Times,
14 June 2026
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His wartime polemic, Our Banner in the Sky (1861), is a visual pun in which morning stars and sunrise clouds conspire to suggest a tattered American flag.—
Susan Tallman,
The Atlantic,
13 June 2026
Noun
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Initial crowds were eager to watch the twisty conspiracy thriller on the biggest and brightest screens, with premium large formats representing a mighty 48% of grosses.—
Rebecca Rubin,
Variety,
14 June 2026
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In a 55-page decision, a superior court judge has dismissed significant portions of a lawsuit filed by the former Chief Human Resources Officer of Boston Water and Sewer, including all claims against the Herald, alleging she was fired as part of a wide-ranging conspiracy.—
Flint McColgan,
Boston Herald,
14 June 2026
Verb
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The work lies in making that interface feel truthful rather than contrived.—
Kate Hardcastle,
Forbes.com,
26 May 2026
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Credibility gets strained pretty quickly as the playwrights contrive to get the characters to face each other in person.—
Christopher Arnott,
Hartford Courant,
21 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Counterplot.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/counterplot. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.
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