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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of mastermind
Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 8 Feb. 2026
For those unfamiliar with him, Piëch was an eccentric and autocratic engineering mastermind responsible for the original Audi Quattro and the modern VW Beetle.
—New Atlas, 6 Feb. 2026
CNN Money, 22 Jan. 2026
An earlier Times report noted that the home was built in 2003, with Sorrell Design masterminding the architecture.
—Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 19 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for mastermind
Noun
And he is backed by the mastermind of chaos, Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald.
—Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 8 Feb. 2026
For those unfamiliar with him, Piëch was an eccentric and autocratic engineering mastermind responsible for the original Audi Quattro and the modern VW Beetle.
—New Atlas, 6 Feb. 2026
Verb
Rebellion is one of the gravest criminal charges in South Korea, with the independent counsel recently demanding the death penalty for Yoon, who was charged with masterminding a rebellion.
—CNN Money, 22 Jan. 2026
An earlier Times report noted that the home was built in 2003, with Sorrell Design masterminding the architecture.
—Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 19 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for mastermind
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mastermind
Noun
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Multigenerational living Local architect Craig Holdren led the design of the main residence, while Kerry Gillette of Grand Gill Design handled interiors for the ADUs.—
David Caraccio,
Sacbee.com,
17 Feb. 2026
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Trained as architects, Collet and Diettert always bring a structural approach to their interiors.—
Annabelle Dufraigne,
Architectural Digest,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Stafford also engineered late game-winning drives in playoff victories over the Carolina Panthers and the Chicago Bears before the Rams suffered a 31-27 defeat by the Seahawks in the NFC championship.—
Gary Klein,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Feb. 2026
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Material World is a weekly roundup of innovations and ideas within the materials sector, covering what’s changing in how fashion is made, scaled or engineered from emerging biomaterials and alternative leathers to sustainable substitutes and future-proof fibers.—
Alexandra Harrell,
Sourcing Journal,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Jackson also helped negotiate the release of hostages in Iraq and Cuba, and the two welcomed some of them home at the airport.—
Grant Stringer,
Mercury News,
18 Feb. 2026
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But the university, like so many others – Penn State and James Franklin (owed $49 million; negotiated down after he was hired by Virginia Tech), LSU and Brian Kelly (owed $54 million); Jimbo Fisher and Texas A&M (owed $76 million) – tied itself to a bad deal and now doesn’t want to pay.—
Dana O’Neil,
CNN Money,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Now there could be an M&A frenzy in the works as prospective buyers plot ways to carve up his representation empire.—
Ethan Millman,
HollywoodReporter,
15 Feb. 2026
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Unsurprisingly the two are already plotting more projects together.—
Alex Ritman,
Variety,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Corporations known to have manipulated rental prices & housing supply should be closely monitored.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
14 Feb. 2026
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During the hours before and during the Super Bowl, Little said, the company detected attempts to manipulate birthdates at triple or more the usual rate.—
Nick Penzenstadler,
USA Today,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Prosecutors claim Sainz Salazar served as a key fentanyl producer for the Chapitos from about 2022 through 2025, helping manufacture millions of pills, arranging drug transactions under armed protection and operating labs that later became central to the group’s fentanyl production.—
Greg Wehner,
FOXNews.com,
6 Feb. 2026
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Mustique also has a small hotel, Cotton House, where 17 guest rooms and suites are arranged between a two-story building and a series of garden cottages.—
Flora Stubbs,
Travel + Leisure,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
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And everyone needs to look out for bicyclists, who drive fast and rarely slow down to maneuver around crowds.—
Katie James Watkinson,
Condé Nast Traveler,
15 Feb. 2026
-
There’s room for the actors to maneuver.—
Elsa Keslassy,
Variety,
14 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Mastermind.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mastermind. Accessed 19 Feb. 2026.
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