as in negotiated
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
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Recent Examples of masterminded
The elaborate scheme, masterminded by members of four Mafia families in collusion with celebrity athletes, ensnared unsuspecting victims, bleeding them of over $7 million through cunning deception, prosecutors said in the indictment.
—
Alaa Elassar, CNN Money, 27 Oct. 2025
From here, the stage is set for Cherry’s awakening, masterminded with wide-eyed economy by Corrin’s gnomic Hero.
—Damon Wise, Deadline, 21 Oct. 2025
In any case, Grace, Hal, and the White House Chief of Staff Billie Appiah (Nana Mensah) go back and forth about how to deal with the impending leak that Grace Penn masterminded the bombing of the ship.
—Trish Deitch, Variety, 17 Oct. 2025
When Hamilton refused him legal help, Reynolds told all who would listen that the Treasury secretary had masterminded his financial chicanery.
—Jane Kamensky, The Atlantic, 10 Oct. 2025
To be sure, Ortega Pérez has masterminded the repositioning and elevation of the brand from high-street chain to cultural player through a robust collaboration strategy.
—Sandra Salibian, Footwear News, 2 Oct. 2025
That trip, meticulously masterminded by head coach Andy Flower and captain Andrew Strauss, also saw their last Test match win on Australian soil.
—James Wallace, New York Times, 22 Sep. 2025
Against a Chargers defense that was masterminded by head coach Jim Harbaugh and defensive coordinator Jesse Minter, the Raiders had lots of trouble getting anything going consistently.
—Robert Marvi, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Sep. 2025
And for those seeking British history, visit Isambard Kingdom Brunel’s SS Great Britain, a steamship created by the man who masterminded much of England’s most impressive infrastructure, including the railway from London to Bristol.
—Lottie Gross, AFAR Media, 29 Aug. 2025
Alaa Elassar, CNN Money, 27 Oct. 2025
From here, the stage is set for Cherry’s awakening, masterminded with wide-eyed economy by Corrin’s gnomic Hero.
—Damon Wise, Deadline, 21 Oct. 2025
In any case, Grace, Hal, and the White House Chief of Staff Billie Appiah (Nana Mensah) go back and forth about how to deal with the impending leak that Grace Penn masterminded the bombing of the ship.
—Trish Deitch, Variety, 17 Oct. 2025
When Hamilton refused him legal help, Reynolds told all who would listen that the Treasury secretary had masterminded his financial chicanery.
—Jane Kamensky, The Atlantic, 10 Oct. 2025
To be sure, Ortega Pérez has masterminded the repositioning and elevation of the brand from high-street chain to cultural player through a robust collaboration strategy.
—Sandra Salibian, Footwear News, 2 Oct. 2025
That trip, meticulously masterminded by head coach Andy Flower and captain Andrew Strauss, also saw their last Test match win on Australian soil.
—James Wallace, New York Times, 22 Sep. 2025
Against a Chargers defense that was masterminded by head coach Jim Harbaugh and defensive coordinator Jesse Minter, the Raiders had lots of trouble getting anything going consistently.
—Robert Marvi, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Sep. 2025
And for those seeking British history, visit Isambard Kingdom Brunel’s SS Great Britain, a steamship created by the man who masterminded much of England’s most impressive infrastructure, including the railway from London to Bristol.
—Lottie Gross, AFAR Media, 29 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for masterminded
Verb
-
Samuel Zimmerman negotiated the acquisition for Independent Film Company and Shudder, while Blue Finch Films represented the filmmakers.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
7 Nov. 2025
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The deal was negotiated by CEO Andre Relis and COO Jessica Russo of VMI and Chee Keong Cheung on behalf of Action Xtreme.—
Zac Ntim,
Deadline,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Mountain Dew Baja Blast was engineered specifically for Taco Bell, launching in 2004 in partnership with PepsiCo, the parent company of Mountain Dew, according to reports.—
Deirdre Bardolf,
FOXNews.com,
8 Nov. 2025
-
It was edited by Jess Jiang, fact-checked by Sierra Juarez, and engineered by Robert Rodriguez, with help from Patrick Murray.—
NPR,
NPR,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Dickey also has to try to balance getting at least six home games per year while honoring the home-and-home series that have been arranged.—
Idaho Statesman,
Idaho Statesman,
7 Nov. 2025
-
The Department of Children's Services has arranged for the children to stay with a relative.—
Andy Humbles,
Nashville Tennessean,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
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At the same time, Austrian Nazis plotted a coup, plans for which were uncovered in a raid on their headquarters on January 25.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Satoru Gojo, the strongest jujutsu sorcerer, arrived to address the chaos, but curse users and spirits plotted to seal him away.—
Nick Romano,
Entertainment Weekly,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Even among some voters who were sincerely uncomfortable with Mamdani’s past rhetoric, many rationalized that an authentic Democrat with a pulse was still better than someone who might be manipulated from afar.—
Philip Elliott,
Time,
5 Nov. 2025
-
Experts said those markets are at risk of being manipulated by foreign influence.—
Kate Plummer,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Masterminded.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/masterminded. Accessed 19 Nov. 2025.
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