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
John Annese, New York Daily News, 29 Mar. 2026
However, the mastermind behind the four championships is head coach Steve Kerr, who achieved multiple championships in his playing days under some of the best minds in basketball.
—Matthew Couden, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Mar. 2026
Julie Carr Smyth The Associated Press, Arkansas Online, 12 Mar. 2026
What happens to her — a deadly warning from the man’s criminal boss father — sets in motion two generations of retribution masterminded by one of the cruelest characters Burton has given us.
—Mary Ann Grossmann, Twin Cities, 8 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for mastermind
Noun
Taxstone, real name Daryl Campbell, was the mastermind of the June 30, 2024, smuggling scheme.
—John Annese, New York Daily News, 29 Mar. 2026
However, the mastermind behind the four championships is head coach Steve Kerr, who achieved multiple championships in his playing days under some of the best minds in basketball.
—Matthew Couden, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Mar. 2026
Verb
Former Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder is serving 20 years in prison for masterminding the scheme.
—Julie Carr Smyth The Associated Press, Arkansas Online, 12 Mar. 2026
What happens to her — a deadly warning from the man’s criminal boss father — sets in motion two generations of retribution masterminded by one of the cruelest characters Burton has given us.
—Mary Ann Grossmann, Twin Cities, 8 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for mastermind
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mastermind
Noun
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Situated inside a luxury hotel, a good LaMelo Ball alley-oop pass away from Spectrum Center, the architect of the Charlotte Hornets’ resurgence is relaxed momentarily.—
Roderick Boone,
Charlotte Observer,
9 Apr. 2026
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Grace Broeder, architect on the project, said the project has been permitted, but a construction date hasn’t been set.—
Chris Higgins,
Kansas City Star,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
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These are engineered for road running and provide maximum cushion for comfort.—
Claire Peltier,
ABC News,
2 Apr. 2026
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But colleges still need to exercise caution because socially engineering positive outcomes can easily go awry.—
David Blobaum,
Chicago Tribune,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
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At the time, Epstein was serving his 18-month sentence in the Palm Beach County stockade but was allowed to spend 12 hours a day, six days a week, in his office under a work-release program his attorneys had negotiated.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
8 Apr. 2026
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Spice levels are negotiated with shorthand, on a scale from one to five.—
Timothy DePeugh,
Charlotte Observer,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Baiamonte also plotted unique calls for every Heat player.—
Dave Hyde,
Sun Sentinel,
4 Apr. 2026
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One tells a story of an A-list actress, aided by some of the biggest celebrities in the world who include husband Ryan Reynolds and friend Taylor Swift, plotting to seize control of a director’s passion project.—
Winston Cho,
HollywoodReporter,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Be careful not to let someone else manipulate you or use guilt or jealousy as a technique.—
Georgia Nicols,
Denver Post,
3 Apr. 2026
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During this time, Duggar manipulated the victim’s underwear and grazed her genitals.—
Assistant Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The concierge specializes in Kyoto’s cultural events, and can help access exclusive ochaya with an interpreter, score tickets to the theater, book dinner reservations, a huge help in Kyoto, or help arrange meetings with monks and priests at the city’s Shinto shrines and temples.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
3 Apr. 2026
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These could be arranged into longer, songlike sequences that played automatically.—
Joshua Rothman,
New Yorker,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The mission is testing the space capsule's life support system and demonstrating its ability to maneuver during rendezvous and (simulated) docking activities.—
Robert Z. Pearlman,
Space.com,
7 Apr. 2026
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Across the board, products are now designed to extend, maintain, and improve hair health, not just mold and maneuver it to our style of choice.—
Iman Balagam,
Vogue,
6 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Mastermind.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mastermind. Accessed 9 Apr. 2026.
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