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machination

noun

Synonyms and Antonyms of machination

a secret plan for accomplishing evil or unlawful ends
  • incredibly complicated machinations to assassinate the president that inevitably failed
Synonyms of machination

conspiracy, design, intrigue, plot, scheme
Words Related to machination

counterconspiracy, counterplot

frame-up

manipulation, subterfuge, trickery

artifice, contrivance, cover-up, dodge, draft, maneuver, stratagem, trick

cabal, confederacy, ring

game, gimmick, racket

ground plan, program, strategy, system

collusion, complicity, connivance, conniving, conspiration

Synonym Discussion of machination

plot, intrigue, machination, conspiracy, cabal mean a plan secretly devised to accomplish an evil or treacherous end. plot implies careful foresight in planning a complex scheme.
    • an assassination plot
intrigue suggests secret underhanded maneuvering in an atmosphere of duplicity.
    • backstairs intrigue
machination implies a contriving of annoyances, injuries, or evils by indirect means.
    • the machinations of a party boss
conspiracy implies a secret agreement among several people usually involving treason or great treachery.
    • a conspiracy to fix prices
cabal typically applies to political intrigue involving persons of some eminence.
    • a cabal among powerful senators

Learn More about machination

  1. See words that rhyme with machination Dictionary: Definition of machination Spanish Central: Translation of machination Nglish: Translation of machination for Spanish speakers

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