MASTERMIND Synonyms: 78 Similar and Opposite Words

mastermind 1 of 2

noun

ˈma-stər-ˌmīnd

Definition of mastermind

as in architect

a person who designs and guides a plan or undertaking the real mastermind behind the embezzlement scheme

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

mastermind

2 of 2

verb

as in to engineer

to plan out usually with subtle skill or care he was charged with masterminding a plan to redecorate the suite of offices without seriously disrupting business operations

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 mastermind

Noun

The committee didn’t say who was the target or name the mastermind. — ABC News, 3 Aug. 2026 The Central Office for Cybercrime in Saxony and the Dresden Public Prosecutor’s Office, Saxony’s highest prosecutorial authority, are still investigating the motive and the mastermind behind the digital breach. — Tessa Solomon, ARTnews.com, 30 July 2026

Verb

The main building has five floors of 90 rooms and the neighboring tower features 51 residences that have been renovated with complimentary design, masterminded by Jenny Bukovec Studio in New York. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 14 July 2026 The siblings have been there for one another since day one—and Austin’s even been instrumental in masterminding some of his sister’s biggest moments. — Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 2 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for mastermind

Recent Examples of Synonyms for mastermind

Noun

The move impressed the architects who viewed it as an interesting way to think about community and its connection to the neighborhood.

— Lisa Boone, Los Angeles Times, 11 Aug. 2026
The gallery’s living spaces filled as AD PRO Directory members—interior designers, architects, landscape designers, and builders among them—retired from a day of client meetings and site visits.

— AD PRO, Architectural Digest, 11 Aug. 2026

Definition of architect

Verb

Researchers have used AlphaFold’s public prediction data to investigate a range of biological problems, including work toward a malaria vaccine and efforts to engineer more resilient crops.

— Mary Randolph, Scientific American, 7 Aug. 2026
The album was engineered and mixed by John Hanlon at Shangri-La, with analog mixes completed at the Village and mastering handled by Chris Bellman at Bernie Grundman Mastering.

— SPIN Staff, SPIN, 7 Aug. 2026

Definition of engineer

Verb

The mogul has told investors the company is willing to negotiate a settlement with Bonta in hopes of completing the massive merger as soon as possible.

— Meg James, Los Angeles Times, 12 Aug. 2026
If Peltz moves forward this time, Trian would first submit the proposal via a regulatory filing and Wendy's independent directors would then decide whether to negotiate directly with Peltz's firm or run a broader auction process.

— Mary Whitfill Roeloffs, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026

Definition of negotiate

Verb

The Voyagers have been skirting this dismal fate for years now, with NASA engineers carefully monitoring each spacecraft’s power supplies and plotting out when to turn off individual instruments to keep the missions going as long as possible.

— Meghan Bartels, Scientific American, 7 Aug. 2026
While this reunion was happening, Juke was watching from a safe distance, plotting.

— Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 7 Aug. 2026

Definition of plot

Verb

Hilariously, the players figure out that they were manipulated on the unanimous Sam vote, and collectively decide that was the top-level metagame.

— Tasha Robinson, Vulture, 11 Aug. 2026
The department has been further beleaguered by concerns that leaders manipulated crime statistics to boost its image.

— Emily Hallas, The Washington Examiner, 10 Aug. 2026

Definition of manipulate

Verb

After the lunar landers separated from SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket, the team sought to maneuver the expended rocket away from the moon, in line with best practices.

— Noah Haggerty, Los Angeles Times, 5 Aug. 2026
Heavy-duty independent steering on both axles allows the vehicle to maneuver deftly through dense city centers.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 4 Aug. 2026

Definition of maneuver

Browse Nearby Words

masterly

mastermind

masterminded

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Mastermind.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mastermind. Accessed 13 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of mastermind

noun

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on mastermind

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

salvo

Popular in Grammar & Usage

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Words of the Week - Aug. 14

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

Games & Quizzes