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
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
  • In Agamemnon’s absence, Clytemnestra plotted her revenge for the death of their daughter.
    — Tanya Fedak, Variety, 18 July 2026
  • AutoCaptain uses six stereo cameras and NVIDIA processing for 360-degree environmental understanding, plotting paths and avoiding obstacles via computer vision and machine learning.
    — Ed Garsten, Forbes.com, 17 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
  • These icons—including symbols associated with hygiene, nature, science, sustainability, food, and culture—are arranged to form a large letter U, echoing the original corporate logo while also reflecting the company’s commitment to diversity.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 17 July 2026
  • According to the court judgment, the pair arranged for employees and associates to drive up bidding prices at auction, inducing the collector, identified under the pseudonym Li Pin, to purchase the items at inflated prices.
    — Tessa Solomon, ARTnews.com, 17 July 2026
Definition of arrange
Verb
  • The truck feels smaller and easier to maneuver than a Sierra, yet never flimsy or underpowered.
    — Josh Max, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026
  • Fox execs, it has been reported, feel NBCU has maneuvered around the restrictions and has an unfair route to viewers through Peacock, an English-language service where Telemundo programming airs.
    — Dade Hayes, Deadline, 15 July 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 18 Jul. 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!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

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?

Commonly Misspelled Words
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

The Words of the Week - Jul 17
See More

Popular

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat
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
child-detective
Spot the Misspelled Word July 2026 Those little red underlines can't help you now...
See All