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

Relevance

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
The committee didn’t say who was the target or name the mastermind. — ABC News, 3 Aug. 2026 The Central Office for Cybercrime in Saxony and the Dresden Public Prosecutor’s Office, Saxony’s highest prosecutorial authority, are still investigating the motive and the mastermind behind the digital breach. — Tessa Solomon, ARTnews.com, 30 July 2026
Verb
The main building has five floors of 90 rooms and the neighboring tower features 51 residences that have been renovated with complimentary design, masterminded by Jenny Bukovec Studio in New York. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 14 July 2026 The siblings have been there for one another since day one—and Austin’s even been instrumental in masterminding some of his sister’s biggest moments. — Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 2 July 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 move impressed the architects who viewed it as an interesting way to think about community and its connection to the neighborhood.
    — Lisa Boone, Los Angeles Times, 11 Aug. 2026
  • The gallery’s living spaces filled as AD PRO Directory members—interior designers, architects, landscape designers, and builders among them—retired from a day of client meetings and site visits.
    — AD PRO, Architectural Digest, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of architect
Verb
  • Researchers have used AlphaFold’s public prediction data to investigate a range of biological problems, including work toward a malaria vaccine and efforts to engineer more resilient crops.
    — Mary Randolph, Scientific American, 7 Aug. 2026
  • The album was engineered and mixed by John Hanlon at Shangri-La, with analog mixes completed at the Village and mastering handled by Chris Bellman at Bernie Grundman Mastering.
    — SPIN Staff, SPIN, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of engineer
Verb
  • The mogul has told investors the company is willing to negotiate a settlement with Bonta in hopes of completing the massive merger as soon as possible.
    — Meg James, Los Angeles Times, 12 Aug. 2026
  • If Peltz moves forward this time, Trian would first submit the proposal via a regulatory filing and Wendy's independent directors would then decide whether to negotiate directly with Peltz's firm or run a broader auction process.
    — Mary Whitfill Roeloffs, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of negotiate
Verb
  • According to charging documents, the teens were allegedly plotting to rob Wright and displayed guns during a video call.
    — Adam Thompson, CBS News, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Which, again, is perfectly fine for parallel parking but not particularly helpful in trail course plotting.
    — Andrew P. Collins, The Drive, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of plot
Verb
  • Hilariously, the players figure out that they were manipulated on the unanimous Sam vote, and collectively decide that was the top-level metagame.
    — Tasha Robinson, Vulture, 11 Aug. 2026
  • The department has been further beleaguered by concerns that leaders manipulated crime statistics to boost its image.
    — Emily Hallas, The Washington Examiner, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of manipulate
Verb
  • After retiring from working in 2019, Norris enjoyed growing and arranging flowers from her yard.
    — Bob Goldsborough, Chicago Tribune, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Nvidia, the $5 trillion AI infrastructure superstar, just arranged $500 billion in financing from Apollo, BlackRock, Goldman Sachs and other Wall Street firms to bankroll customer orders for its cutting-edge chips.
    — Matt Egan, CNN Money, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of arrange
Verb
  • As the Esquire interview was presented, Pitt appeared to maneuver the writer, Ryan D’Agostino, into asking about his drinking.
    — Martha Ross, Mercury News, 13 Aug. 2026
  • After the lunar landers separated from SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket, the team sought to maneuver the expended rocket away from the moon, in line with best practices.
    — Noah Haggerty, Los Angeles Times, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of maneuver

Browse Nearby Words

masterly
mastermind
masterminded
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

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

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on mastermind

Nglish: Translation of mastermind for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of zeugma

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Words of the Week - Aug. 14

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
image of a green cube out of place in a lineup of red spheres
Odd Word Out: Synonyms Vol. 2 Quiz Figure out which word isn't like the others.
See All