Synonyms of machinate

machinate

verb

ˈma-kə-ˌnāt 

1

as in to plot

to engage in a secret plan to accomplish evil or unlawful ends

a trio of courtiers who were discovered to be machinating against the queen

Synonyms & Similar Words

• plot
• scheme
• conspire
• contrive
• collude
• plan
• connive
• intrigue
• devise
• compass
• engineer
• manipulate
• concoct
• hatch
• counterplot
• put up
• design
• cook (up)
• maneuver
• brew
• shape
• map
• jockey
• lay out
• frame

2

as in to negotiate

to plan out usually with subtle skill or care

the hackers machinated a way to steal credit numbers from the company's Web site

Synonyms & Similar Words

• negotiate
• manipulate
• arrange
• plot
• engineer
• contrive
• maneuver
• manage
• wangle
• frame
• conclude
• finagle
• mastermind
• scheme
• finesse
• conduct
• concert
• work out
• concoct
• connive
• intrigue
• compass
• hatch
• direct
• handle
• hammer out
• cook (up)
• angle (for)
• brew
• command
• run
• gerrymander
• quarterback
• captain

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• butcher
• bungle
• mangle
• blow
• gum (up)
• botch
• fumble
• mishandle
• mess (up)
• muff
• flub
• louse up
• bobble

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of machinate

But Cleopatra, still machinating away in Alexandria, couldn’t handle the thought of Herod gaining any further traction in Antony’s affections. — Anne Thériault, Longreads, 18 Dec. 2019

Now a new scheme described by ProPublica and The Wall Street Journal involves families seemingly machinating to get an unfair leg up in paying for a coveted seat at a university. — Adam Harris, The Atlantic, 30 July 2019