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
Gary Baum, HollywoodReporter, 12 June 2026
Laura Ingalls Wilder may have been the official brains of Little House, but Michael Landon became the mastermind of the show itself.
—Kelly Martinez, Entertainment Weekly, 12 June 2026
Julia Coin
june 9, Charlotte Observer, 9 June 2026
Then everyone is shocked to discover that Ray and Shorty have actually masterminded it all.
—Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 7 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for mastermind
Noun
Objection’s Founder and CEO is Aron D’Souza, an Australian entrepreneur and provocateur best known as the mastermind behind Thiel’s litigation strategy against Gawker, which involved a patient, extensive search for the ideal proxy plaintiff to sink the online news outlet.
—Gary Baum, HollywoodReporter, 12 June 2026
Laura Ingalls Wilder may have been the official brains of Little House, but Michael Landon became the mastermind of the show itself.
—Kelly Martinez, Entertainment Weekly, 12 June 2026
Verb
Federal prosecutors said her signatures cost the federal programs more than six million dollars; the entire scheme, masterminded by a man in his late-20s named Steve Richardson, cost taxpayers $11 million.
—Julia Coin
june 9, Charlotte Observer, 9 June 2026
Then everyone is shocked to discover that Ray and Shorty have actually masterminded it all.
—Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 7 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for mastermind
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mastermind
Noun
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Rex Heuermann, a 62-year-old New York architect, pleaded guilty April 8 to murdering seven women and admitted to killing the eighth, 34-year-old Karen Vergata, in a series of crimes spanning more than 17 years.—
N'dea Yancey-Bragg,
USA Today,
18 June 2026
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Heuermann, an architect who lived in Massapequa Park and worked in Manhattan before his arrest, led a double life.—
Janelle Griffith,
PEOPLE,
17 June 2026
Verb
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Humans near the site must be receptive to the animals, and a community needs a contingency plan in case the beavers engineer too close to human infrastructure.—
Laura Paddison,
CNN Money,
18 June 2026
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The production design and costume design reveal a colorful world that feels ’60- inspired, where some children are genetically engineered for enhanced academic ability and the internet no longer exists for everyday human consumption.—
Rebecca Ford,
Vanity Fair,
18 June 2026
Verb
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Canada negotiates lower drug prices for all its citizens under its universal health care system.—
Alan Gionet,
CBS News,
17 June 2026
-
Again, this could be negotiated.—
Chris McKenna,
New York Times,
17 June 2026
Verb
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This doesn’t mean elite parents sit around plotting class reproduction over brunch.—
Rob Henderson,
Washington Post,
21 June 2026
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He was invited by Malcolm X to stay in Harlem at the famous Hotel Theresa, where agents with ties to the FBI, CIA and the Mafia, plotted to assassinate him.—
Richard Johnson,
New York Daily News,
21 June 2026
Verb
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This enables robots to identify objects, track movement, plan motions, and manipulate components with a high degree of precision.—
Jijo Malayil,
Interesting Engineering,
19 June 2026
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Wang then placed his hands underneath her clothing and began touching her breasts before manipulating her arm to touch his genitals, the suit states.—
Lillie Davidson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
19 June 2026
Verb
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Angelina Guatemala, 64, counted on federal food stamps after retiring a couple of years ago in Ogden, Kansas, from assorted jobs arranging flowers, decorating cakes in shops, and preparing meals.—
Bart Jansen,
USA Today,
19 June 2026
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How to Make Homemade Croutons In the Oven Preheat the oven to 450°F and arrange the rack in the middle position.—
Anne Wolf,
Martha Stewart,
18 June 2026
Verb
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These sets are spacious, easy to maneuver, and durable enough to handle all of your future trips—and prices start at just $76.—
Jasmine Gomez,
Travel + Leisure,
22 June 2026
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This Black+Decker cordless vacuum has a slim, lightweight design that’s easy to maneuver and converts into a handheld for messes on furniture, storacases, car seats, and more.—
Clara McMahon,
PEOPLE,
22 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Mastermind.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mastermind. Accessed 24 Jun. 2026.
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