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
Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 3 June 2026
The inflatable work includes a sound element created by Thomas Bangalter, one of the two masterminds of the French electronic-music duo Daft Punk, and had been scheduled to be on view from June 6 through June 28.
—Andy Battaglia, ARTnews.com, 3 June 2026
Jakob Rodgers, Mercury News, 3 June 2026
Johnson was convicted of capital murder on March 19, 2003, for masterminding the 1999 shooting.
—Kc Baker, PEOPLE, 2 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for mastermind
Noun
So, what do the masterminds at Love Island have in mind?
—Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 3 June 2026
The inflatable work includes a sound element created by Thomas Bangalter, one of the two masterminds of the French electronic-music duo Daft Punk, and had been scheduled to be on view from June 6 through June 28.
—Andy Battaglia, ARTnews.com, 3 June 2026
Verb
At the time Chhabria made his finding in 2024, Ervin had been awaiting execution in the November 1986 killing of Carlene McDonald, who was slain in an alleged murder-for-hire plot believed by prosecutors to be masterminded by the woman’s ex-husband.
—Jakob Rodgers, Mercury News, 3 June 2026
Johnson was convicted of capital murder on March 19, 2003, for masterminding the 1999 shooting.
—Kc Baker, PEOPLE, 2 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for mastermind
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mastermind
Noun
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Worked on by architect Julia Morgan for nearly 30 years, the estate, which was never officially finished, includes 165 rooms and 123 acres of gardens, terraces, pools and walkways, where Hearst displayed his impressive art collection.—
Alia Beard Rau,
USA Today,
10 June 2026
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The grand property later took on a radically different role as the state-of-the-art St George's Hospital, rebuilt in 1825 by architect William Wilkins, the mind behind London’s National Gallery.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
10 June 2026
Verb
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For much of history, before humans learned how to engineer immunity, almost every parent had to bury at least one of their children, and often more.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
11 June 2026
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At one participating college, leaders aligned IT and engineering pathways with local employers so students are not just taking isolated courses, but moving through coherent pathways tied to internships and pre-apprenticeship opportunities.—
Michael Collins,
Forbes.com,
11 June 2026
Verb
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Mamdani negotiated 1,000 affordable tickets from FIFA at $50 each, with free round-trip transportation, for New Yorkers who won a lottery.—
Catherina Gioino,
Fortune,
9 June 2026
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After submitting an internet bill for review, Rocket Money successfully negotiated a lower monthly rate, reducing the cost from $90 to $50 per month.—
Nick Perry,
USA Today,
9 June 2026
Verb
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An engineer plots a well’s falling output, fits a curve, and projects it forward.—
Dara-Abasi Ita,
Forbes.com,
14 June 2026
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Hidden amongst them are the Werewolves, a secret set plotting to eliminate players one by one and steal the prize.—
Georg Szalai,
HollywoodReporter,
12 June 2026
Verb
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What online scammers are looking to steal The FBI issued a warning last month that cybercriminals are manipulating or reproducing the official FIFA World Cup website to scam fans who are looking for tickets, hospitality packages, merchandise, streaming access and betting opportunities.—
Karen Garcia,
Los Angeles Times,
11 June 2026
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Ironically then, the state’s efforts to verify the legitimacy of ballots lengthen the count, which then leads to allegations that the count is being manipulated.—
Dan Walters,
Mercury News,
11 June 2026
Verb
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Songtams' guides can bring you to local temples and arrange cultural experiences to the Yunnan Nationalities Village showcasing ethnic minority cultures like the Yi, Bai, and Dai people.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
12 June 2026
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Jason Momoa, who was born in Hawaii, was photographed helping Lola arrange traditional colorful Hawaiian garlands, the leis, a tribute to her roots.—
Monica Coviello,
Vanity Fair,
11 June 2026
Verb
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There is no way to maneuver or dispose of them if left abandoned in orbit after releasing their payloads.—
Stephen Clark,
ArsTechnica,
15 June 2026
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The company thinks this feature is more important now that military and commercial satellites can maneuver more often.—
Sujita Sinha,
Interesting Engineering,
15 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Mastermind.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mastermind. Accessed 16 Jun. 2026.
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