mastermind 1 of 2

noun

ˈma-stər-ˌmīnd How to pronounce mastermind (audio)
Definition of mastermindnext
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
As a fan, Madonna was taking it all in, from club beats to post-punk to early rap — the ultimate disco fan turned into the ultimate disco mastermind. — Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 3 July 2026 Burton was, of course, the mastermind behind Kate’s 2011 wedding dress. — Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 29 June 2026
Verb
The insurance company has alleged that a rogue AI robot masterminded Dela Torre’s campaign to improperly challenge her settlement agreement, generating a flurry of baseless and abusive filings that cost $300,000 to contest. — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 15 June 2026 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 See All Example Sentences for mastermind
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mastermind
  1. architect
  2. engineer
  3. negotiate
  4. plot
  5. manipulate
  6. arrange
  7. maneuver
Noun
  • The architect designed almost 170 custom wood furnishings for the house in a style that blended harmoniously with the architecture.
    — Elizabeth Fazzare, Architectural Digest, 14 July 2026
  • Designed in collaboration with Ukrainian architect and designer Victoria Yakusha, the boutique translates the brand’s restrained jewelry vocabulary into a nearly monochromatic interior.
    — Thomas Waller, Footwear News, 14 July 2026
Definition of architect
Verb
  • Likewise, Gazoo Racing is steadily building its own ecosystem—its own logo, motorsport programs, engineering philosophy and increasingly, its own products.
    — Peter Lyon, Forbes.com, 11 July 2026
  • Eventually, somebody sat down and reverse-engineered a better solution, Gorton explained.
    — Peter Nelson, ArsTechnica, 10 July 2026
Definition of engineer
Verb
  • Although Chism is on administrative leave, the deals she’s participated in negotiating on behalf of Wyandotte County will remain ongoing in her absence, the Unified Government told The Star after her arrest.
    — Sofi Zeman July 15, Kansas City Star, 15 July 2026
  • Mendieta is best known for work that interweaves sadness with violence, drawing on her experiences of exile and her feminist politics to negotiate the transient fragility of life.
    — Eliza Goodpasture, ARTnews.com, 15 July 2026
Definition of negotiate
Verb
  • Emboldened by her sudden fame, Tyler signed to Sony in the early 1980s and, anxious to reinvent herself, petitioned the bombastic songwriter Jim Steinman to plot her a pivot to arena rock.
    — Jazz Monroe, Pitchfork, 9 July 2026
  • But now, Yepez sits in jail — accused of plotting to kill one of her employees.
    — James Queally, Los Angeles Times, 8 July 2026
Definition of plot
Verb
  • Raving can be traced to the late 1980s, when artists like DJ Pierre and Spanky sparked a bright but short flame of acid house in Chicago clubs, manipulating synthesizers to create squelchy beats dancers could jack their bodies to.
    — Kiana Mickles, Pitchfork, 15 July 2026
  • Today’s elite are going to extraordinary lengths to manipulate their microclimates, from morphing mansions to underground snow rooms.
    — Elizabeth Fazzare, Architectural Digest, 15 July 2026
Definition of manipulate
Verb
  • Residents arrange for projectors, audio speakers and power generators, Sikh temples and village community spaces become open-air theaters for an evening, and volunteers spread the word from one household to the next.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 10 July 2026
  • The property’s expert concierge is always a WhatsApp message away and can arrange a menu of experiences at the villas or nearby resort for you—or leave your schedule empty for hours spent by the pool and traversing nearby cliffs and beaches.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 July 2026
Definition of arrange
Verb
  • The semi-truck driver tried to change lanes to avoid the Jeep, but Tran maneuvered the car in front of the truck a third time and brake-checked him again.
    — Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 11 July 2026
  • Israeli tanks maneuver around new military posts marked by towering Israeli flags within eyesight of Palestinians in al-Shujaiya.
    — Aya Batrawy, NPR, 10 July 2026
Definition of maneuver

Browse Nearby Words

masterly
mastermind
masterminded
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Cite this Entry

“Mastermind.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mastermind. Accessed 16 Jul. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of mastermind for Spanish Speakers

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