machinations

plural of machination

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 machinations This case smacks of the political machinations so typical of Tamarac. — Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 18 Oct. 2026 The switch-up came with a bit of comic, manic machinations that Rock said reminded him of making Devil Without a Cause, his 1998 breakthrough. — Gary Graff, Billboard, 15 Oct. 2026 Elia’s observations of—and about—her father’s machinations would make for a far better movie. — Richard Brody, New Yorker, 15 Oct. 2026 And the recording that exposed their machinations ultimately destroyed the type of ethnic politicking that made the careers of too many self-serving power grabbers, including this quartet. — Los Angeles Times, 9 Oct. 2026 The safety and dignity of more than two million civilians cannot continue to be held hostage to the decisions of Hamas, much less the machinations of internal Israeli politics. — Khaled Elgindy, Foreign Affairs, 8 Oct. 2026 Across two seasons packed with twisty machinations, Jung’s virtuous prosecutor Jang Geon-young attempted to pin down Hyun’s shamelessly corrupt — but effortlessly cool — intelligence officer Baek Ki-tae, only to be outfoxed at every turn. — Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 24 Sep. 2026 That merger reduced the club’s holding in Barca Produccions and turned it into a subsidiary, though the year just past saw more share machinations. — Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026 Understanding the machinations of the current administration and predicting its plans is too tall an order. — Kate Nishimura, Footwear News, 11 Sep. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for machinations
Noun
  • Spoelstra finished tied with Houston’s Ime Udoka with the second-most votes (10%) as the head coach who has the best defensive schemes.
    — Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 15 Oct. 2026
  • While both players moved around sometimes in their respective schemes, Shipp and Glasker do most of their damage as outside receivers.
    — Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • What always entertains me so much about those types of conspiracies is that reality is just as crazy.
    — Nilay Patel, The Verge, 15 Oct. 2026
  • But in recent years, Brand has publicly pivoted to an influencer and podcaster focused on spirituality and heavily leaning toward anti-government conspiracies.
    — CT Jones, Rolling Stone, 14 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • There’s no winking at the audience, no sense of camp or parody, just a lot of appealing interactions, plus some wholly superfluous tertiary plots added to expand the story to series length.
    — Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Unsheltered intertwined two plots related to the precarity of American life and the danger of demagogues—one set at the dawn of the MAGA era.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 8 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • However, work stalled at the 60th floor and was paused for several years, with multiple reports naming palace intrigues and purges by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman as the cause for the delay.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 8 Oct. 2026
  • The series has always moved at a deliberate pace, allowing the characters’ social battles and romantic intrigues to simmer.
    — Chris Murphy, Vanity Fair, 25 Aug. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Machinations.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/machinations. Accessed 19 Oct. 2026.

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