as in schemes
a secret plan for accomplishing evil or unlawful ends
incredibly complicated machinations to assassinate the president that inevitably failed
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Recent Examples of machinations
The indictment — and the machinations that led to it — are the latest, and arguably most concerning, example of what many legal observers point to as the politicization and weaponization of the department under Bondi.
—
Elena Moore, NPR, 7 Oct. 2025
Music industry machinations are mostly to blame; a higher supply of albums means more sales, which translates into chart performance and popularity and plain old checks to cash.
—Heather Bushman, IndyStar, 1 Oct. 2025
Through Jesan’s machinations, it is finally revealed that the Queen Dowager and many court officials campaigned for the execution.
—Kayti Burt, Time, 29 Sep. 2025
The industry functions on a delicate infrastructure of intimidation, backbiting, and the occasional contract amid endless favors, yanking Aasmaan through its machinations like a rag doll in the wind.
—Proma Khosla, IndieWire, 19 Sep. 2025
Changing that fact would require a significant shift in business approach (though Amazon and Apple already have some of these machinations in place, including some bundling discounts).
—John Cassillo, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
Hugo kept his cool as his crew became increasingly ensnared in Solène’s machinations and managed to keep a respectable distance from the interpersonal drama of the boat.
—Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 16 Sep. 2025
In Greenberg’s novel, Cherry and Hero are already secret lovers who conspire to thwart the menfolk’s machinations.
—Leslie Felperin, HollywoodReporter, 5 Sep. 2025
The machinations violated the NBA’s salary cap rules.
—Jason Clinkscales, Sportico.com, 3 Sep. 2025
Elena Moore, NPR, 7 Oct. 2025
Music industry machinations are mostly to blame; a higher supply of albums means more sales, which translates into chart performance and popularity and plain old checks to cash.
—Heather Bushman, IndyStar, 1 Oct. 2025
Through Jesan’s machinations, it is finally revealed that the Queen Dowager and many court officials campaigned for the execution.
—Kayti Burt, Time, 29 Sep. 2025
The industry functions on a delicate infrastructure of intimidation, backbiting, and the occasional contract amid endless favors, yanking Aasmaan through its machinations like a rag doll in the wind.
—Proma Khosla, IndieWire, 19 Sep. 2025
Changing that fact would require a significant shift in business approach (though Amazon and Apple already have some of these machinations in place, including some bundling discounts).
—John Cassillo, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
Hugo kept his cool as his crew became increasingly ensnared in Solène’s machinations and managed to keep a respectable distance from the interpersonal drama of the boat.
—Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 16 Sep. 2025
In Greenberg’s novel, Cherry and Hero are already secret lovers who conspire to thwart the menfolk’s machinations.
—Leslie Felperin, HollywoodReporter, 5 Sep. 2025
The machinations violated the NBA’s salary cap rules.
—Jason Clinkscales, Sportico.com, 3 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for machinations
Noun
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It is developed in multiple phases and is part of larger solar-hydro complementary schemes.—
Kaif Shaikh,
Interesting Engineering,
9 Oct. 2025
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And GMs voted Spoelstra third in the category of which coach runs the NBA’s best defensive schemes.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
9 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Yet the hyperactive news cycle demands everyone create some kind of schema for figuring out what’s going on, and our era is typified with crackpot right-wing conspiracies that fill that void.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 Oct. 2025
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Following a six-week trial last fall, CTJ and Si Oh Rhew were found guilty of two conspiracies and multiple counts of failure to file reports of currency transactions.—
Rosemary Feitelberg,
Footwear News,
1 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Her plots were both intricate and gutsy, spiked with sharp observations and wicked humour.—
Jesse Whittock,
Deadline,
6 Oct. 2025
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These properties along River Road, which stretch from the Big Four Bridge to Indian Hills, include Champions, Twin, Thurman-Hutchins, Carrie Gaulbert Cox, Eva Bandman and Caperton Swamp parks, among other plots of land.—
Matthew Glowicki,
Louisville Courier Journal,
2 Oct. 2025
Noun
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His firepower for short stints on the mound intrigues the Rockies.—
Patrick Saunders,
Denver Post,
29 Sep. 2025
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While plundering a dungeon lair and stealing artifacts from a museum both have heist elements to them, Skullduggery looks into the other intrigues of adventures in urban environments.—
Rob Wieland,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Machinations.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/machinations. Accessed 15 Oct. 2025.
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