as in architect
a person who designs and guides a plan or undertaking
the real mastermind behind the embezzlement scheme
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
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Recent Examples of mastermind
Joe Otterson, Variety, 17 Mar. 2026
With highly unusual subject matter for a song-and-dance production, this 2024 Olivier Award-winner for Best New Musical chronicles a real-life World War II invasion plan that counted British intelligence officer Ian Fleming — the future creator of James Bond — among its masterminds.
—John Beifuss, Memphis Commercial Appeal, 16 Mar. 2026
David Smiley, Miami Herald, 28 Feb. 2026
Western officials say Russia is masterminding a campaign of sabotage and disruption across Europe.
—ABC News, 27 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for mastermind
Noun
Series mastermind Mike White is the writer, director, and executive producer.
—Joe Otterson, Variety, 17 Mar. 2026
With highly unusual subject matter for a song-and-dance production, this 2024 Olivier Award-winner for Best New Musical chronicles a real-life World War II invasion plan that counted British intelligence officer Ian Fleming — the future creator of James Bond — among its masterminds.
—John Beifuss, Memphis Commercial Appeal, 16 Mar. 2026
Verb
Cuban officials on Friday said the attack had been masterminded by Maritza Lugo Fernandez, an exile and former political prisoner in Cuba.
—David Smiley, Miami Herald, 28 Feb. 2026
Western officials say Russia is masterminding a campaign of sabotage and disruption across Europe.
—ABC News, 27 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for mastermind
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mastermind
Noun
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The school has also retained an architect to refurbish existing spaces that will be used by girls.—
Jennah Pendleton,
Sacbee.com,
25 Mar. 2026
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Designed by pioneering Modernist architect Richard Neutra in 1928, with limited collaboration from another Modernist icon, Rudolph Schindler, the Jardinette Apartments had been hiding in plain sight on an unassuming Hollywood street for nearly a century.—
Sam Lubell,
Los Angeles Times,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Nobel Prize-winning economist Paul Krugman told CBS News that the most effective way to reduce oil consumption is for people to change their driving habits — primarily by driving less — while acknowledging that engineering such a shift isn't easy.—
Megan Cerullo,
CBS News,
26 Mar. 2026
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Truekind bras are engineered to provide gentle support that works with real bodies, and not against them.—
Matthew Kayser,
USA Today,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Almost every Democrat who responded blamed Republicans for refusing to reopen most of DHS while continuing to negotiate on immigration enforcement funding.—
Arden Farhi,
CBS News,
25 Mar. 2026
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By the time fall approached, Kise and Bhirud, with Blanche’s blessing, were negotiating Ver’s extraordinary deal line by line.—
Avi Asher-Schapiro,
ProPublica,
24 Mar. 2026
Verb
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In Minnesota, a man was sentenced to life in prison for plotting the murder of a real estate agent in part by luring her to a bogus showing.—
Tim Stelloh,
NBC news,
29 Mar. 2026
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From there, further modules plan and execute experiments, analyze and plot the data and, finally, write the paper.—
Jacek Krywko,
Scientific American,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Orban started manipulating these grievances, and did so to significantly divide Hungarian society.—
John Shattuck,
The Conversation,
27 Mar. 2026
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As machines grow more powerful, society will become increasingly effective at shaping the world, while individuals who never learned to think deeply will be easier to manipulate.—
Shai Tubali,
Big Think,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The academy had been looking for a venue that offered greater control over how the show is staged, including how the audience is arranged and how the room is used for both the broadcast and the live event.—
Tribune News Service,
Baltimore Sun,
26 Mar. 2026
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Trump administration officials are working to arrange a meeting in Pakistan this weekend to discuss an off-ramp to the war in Iran, two senior administration officials told CNN.—
Mustafa Qadri,
CNN Money,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
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JetBlue increased the fees as airlines maneuver to cover their rising jet fuel costs, which have soared since the Iran war began.—
Megan Cerullo,
CBS News,
30 Mar. 2026
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The Red Sox surprisingly didn't trade any of their young outfielders this offseason, and now have to figure out how to maneuver their lineup effectively.—
Shaun McAvoy,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Mastermind.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mastermind. Accessed 31 Mar. 2026.
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