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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
Nearly ten years later, the show’s mastermind and star, Lena Dunham, has a child of her own. — Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 16 Sep. 2026 Scott Keever is an entrepreneur, internationally recognized SEO expert, online reputation mastermind and Founder of Reputation Pros. — Scott Keever, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2026
Verb
Davis was arrested in 2023 and indicted for masterminding the killing and providing the gun. — Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 17 Aug. 2026 Those meetings included Bolton, Galliano and Anna Wintour, the Vogue editor who masterminds the Met Gala every year. — ABC News, 31 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
  • Co-founded by George Lucas and his wife, Mellody Hobson, the soaring biomorphic structure designed by architect Ma Yansong’s firm MAD displays Lucas’s vast and motley personal collection of figurative art.
    — Philip Kennicott, Washington Post, 21 Sep. 2026
  • Selection panels should include makers, architects, fabricators, conservators, historians, and citizens — not only curators.
    — Frank Porcu, New York Daily News, 20 Sep. 2026
Definition of architect
Verb
  • The company says the coated material can also be engineered to provide electrical insulation for specific battery applications.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 19 Sep. 2026
  • That unvarnished honesty, the willingness to take themselves down a notch, clearly resonated with the audience of young people accustomed to spending hours each day swiping through content engineered to mask imperfection.
    — Antonio Ferme, Variety, 19 Sep. 2026
Definition of engineer
Verb
  • Know More The Pentagon has negotiated equity or some equivalent, like warrants, in at least 10 companies since Cerberus cofounder Steve Feinberg was confirmed as deputy defense secretary last year.
    — Eleanor Mueller, semafor.com, 21 Sep. 2026
  • Instead, the channels will have to negotiate deals as though they are separated.
    — Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 21 Sep. 2026
Definition of negotiate
Verb
  • The knowledge of how lunar craters form and evolve could prove useful as humans plot their return to the lunar surface for the first time in more than half a century.
    — Adam Kovac, Scientific American, 22 Sep. 2026
  • Moving forward, Le Silla has no immediate plans to open more stores, but Paris and London are top of mind as the brand plots its long-term international growth strategy.
    — Katie Abel, Footwear News, 21 Sep. 2026
Definition of plot
Verb
  • Here again, negative energy densities are conceptually valid, but the question of whether humans could ever produce and manipulate them in the ways required to bring Alcubierre's warp drive into reality is another matter entirely.
    — Micah Hanks, Space.com, 23 Sep. 2026
  • Lashify founder Sahara Lotti said his ability to manipulate the brand’s lashes and create different eye shapes first caught her attention through his work with Zendaya.
    — Ryma Chikhoune, Footwear News, 23 Sep. 2026
Definition of manipulate
Verb
  • Guests who need accessible room setups or transportation are encouraged to arrange these in advance of their visit.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 26 Sep. 2026
  • The White House also arranged for an elaborate military review that the leaders and their spouses observed before the Oval Office talks.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of arrange
Verb
  • What to watch Countries Washington has traditionally counted on to magnify its power are increasingly seeking room to maneuver between the world's two largest economies.
    — Luke Fountain, CNBC, 23 Sep. 2026
  • Additional Democrats are still maneuvering for other jobs in the leadership chain.
    — Nicholas Wu, semafor.com, 21 Sep. 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 26 Sep. 2026.

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