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

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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

Prosecutors accused him of being the mastermind of the slaying and of having ordered and paid for it. — ABC News, 2 Sep. 2026 In 2026, the superstar somehow kept up her mastermind games while also putting on a top-secret spectacle of a wedding to Travis Kelce. — Maya Georgi, Rolling Stone, 30 Aug. 2026

Verb

Those meetings included Bolton, Galliano and Anna Wintour, the Vogue editor who masterminds the Met Gala every year. — ABC News, 31 July 2026 Ferrell, who had an alternate offer, then masterminded an exit strategy. — Stephanie Sengwe, PEOPLE, 20 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for mastermind

Recent Examples of Synonyms for mastermind

Noun

The backstory In 2021, British entrepreneur Chris Ingham Brooke decided to take his family on a one week trip to Nosara with his longtime friend, architect Ilya Korolev, whose children were around the same age as Chris’s.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Sep. 2026
Jac Schaeffer, the architect behind WandaVision and successor series Agatha All Along, intended to spearhead the concluding chapter of her television trilogy — a Vision-centric saga of self-discovery with returning star Paul Bettany.

— Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 8 Sep. 2026

Definition of architect

Verb

Yup, the bike will be manufactured in China even though it's designed and engineered in its home country, Spain.

— Bultaco, New Atlas, 5 Sep. 2026
These layers were engineered to create electronic energy levels that strengthen interactions between light and matter.

— Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 4 Sep. 2026

Definition of engineer

Verb

Elsewhere — yes, at goddamn Hamburger Hamlet — another couple is negotiating the terms of their relationship.

— Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 10 Sep. 2026
As Wrexham’s two options to lead an attack that invariably features a lone forward playing in front of two No 10s, the duo played an important role last season in helping negotiate the considerable step-up to the Championship.

— Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026

Definition of negotiate

Verb

Stolen and enslaved Indigenous people formed new networks of kinship; learned new skills and languages; retained memories of family, kin, and rituals; and, through it all, continually plotted to return home.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 11 Sep. 2026
O’Kane shouts when Tom Brokaw announces that one of the men suspected of plotting the attack has been detained.

— Jeff Goodell, Rolling Stone, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of plot

Verb

Trapped-ion computers depend on lasers to manipulate and control ions.

— Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 9 Sep. 2026
The company accused Fox News of airing false claims that voting machines were manipulated to help Joe Biden win the 2020 presidential election.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 9 Sep. 2026

Definition of manipulate

Verb

Twelve years later, England arranged themselves in a V-shape which outflanked the haka, their fly-half Owen Farrell appearing to wink at the All Blacks’ display — and made it through to the World Cup final with a 19-7 triumph.

— Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026
Within the five-story building, art is displayed across 35 galleries arranged by such themes as family, love, fantasy, work, play, community, childhood, adventure, and sports.

— Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of arrange

Verb

And in fairness, there was a cognizant effort to keep Ohtani as rested as possible, including a season-long six-man rotation and an attempt to maneuver Ohtani’s starts to line up on games prior to a team off day, when possible.

— Katie Woo, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026
Blimp are actually one of the safest ways to travel, given their slow speed and ability to be maneuvered almost like a hot air balloon should engines quit while in the air.

— Irene Wright, USA Today, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of maneuver

Browse Nearby Words

masterly

mastermind

masterminded

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Style

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

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Synonyms of mastermind

noun

verb

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