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
Prosecutors said the ringleader was recruited online for a plot masterminded by Russia’s intelligence services.
—
ABC News, 16 June 2026
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
Famous architect John Nash (who was also behind the design of Buckingham Palace) masterminded the original estate as a classical storied mansion.
—Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 11 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
Then everyone is shocked to discover that Ray and Shorty have actually masterminded it all.
—Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 7 June 2026
At least six people carried out the plot alllegedly masterminded by the 27-year-old Molina, but none of them have been apprehended, authorities said.
—CBS News, 3 June 2026
At the time Chhabria made his finding in 2024, Ervin had been awaiting execution in the November 1986 killing of Carlene McDonald, who was slain in an alleged murder-for-hire plot believed by prosecutors to be masterminded by the woman’s ex-husband.
—Jakob Rodgers, Mercury News, 3 June 2026
The manager who masterminded the FA Cup win last season and the player who scored the winning goal in the UEFA Conference League final took a moment to appreciate each other and let reality sink in.
—Matt Woosnam, New York Times, 28 May 2026
ABC News, 16 June 2026
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
Famous architect John Nash (who was also behind the design of Buckingham Palace) masterminded the original estate as a classical storied mansion.
—Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 11 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
Then everyone is shocked to discover that Ray and Shorty have actually masterminded it all.
—Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 7 June 2026
At least six people carried out the plot alllegedly masterminded by the 27-year-old Molina, but none of them have been apprehended, authorities said.
—CBS News, 3 June 2026
At the time Chhabria made his finding in 2024, Ervin had been awaiting execution in the November 1986 killing of Carlene McDonald, who was slain in an alleged murder-for-hire plot believed by prosecutors to be masterminded by the woman’s ex-husband.
—Jakob Rodgers, Mercury News, 3 June 2026
The manager who masterminded the FA Cup win last season and the player who scored the winning goal in the UEFA Conference League final took a moment to appreciate each other and let reality sink in.
—Matt Woosnam, New York Times, 28 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for masterminded
Verb
-
Again, this could be negotiated.—
Chris McKenna,
New York Times,
17 June 2026
-
Other issues to be negotiated in a final deal, according to the framework, are how to monitor implementation and future compliance.—
Deepa Shivaram,
NPR,
17 June 2026
Verb
-
The killings were engineered to terrify the remaining Poles into fleeing westward, so extensive documentation was spread of the accompanying torture and mutilation.—
Brady Knox,
The Washington Examiner,
20 June 2026
-
How has the company engineered this success?—
Scotty Reiss,
Forbes.com,
20 June 2026
Verb
-
First class will see suites arranged in a 1-1-1 configuration across the cabin, each featuring an 80-inch flat bed and separate armchair, plus a full-length wardrobe.—
Jake McGowan,
CNN Money,
19 June 2026
-
Written, composed, and arranged by K-indie singer-songwriter and producer Hyun-sang Ha, the pop-rock ballad was created with his friend, Minhyuk, in mind.—
Laura Sirikul,
Forbes.com,
19 June 2026
Verb
-
Eisenhower’s national security team subsequently plotted to overthrow no fewer than three different democracies on three different continents over the course of his eight years.—
Ta-Nehisi Coates,
Vanity Fair,
15 June 2026
-
And while the women of Chinatown’s faraway past may have daydreamed and even plotted their escapes, See keeps going back.—
Emily St. Martin,
Los Angeles Times,
11 June 2026
Verb
-
In April 2026, the New England Journal of Medicine retracted a paper after discovering that a clinical image had been manipulated with AI.—
Nan Li,
The Conversation,
22 June 2026
-
Predictive markets, like sports betting, can be manipulated.—
Gladys Louise Tyler,
Forbes.com,
21 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Masterminded.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/masterminded. Accessed 23 Jun. 2026.
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