as in negotiating
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 masterminding
Former Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder is serving 20 years in prison for masterminding the scheme.
—
Julie Carr Smyth The Associated Press, Arkansas Online, 12 Mar. 2026
Western officials say Russia is masterminding a campaign of sabotage and disruption across Europe.
—ABC News, 27 Feb. 2026
Under South Korean law, masterminding an insurrection carries a maximum sentence of death or life imprisonment.
—Michael Sinkewicz, FOXNews.com, 19 Feb. 2026
They are accused en masse of masterminding a multi-billion-dollar ripoff of federal funds.
—Robert W. Laird, New York Daily News, 6 Feb. 2026
Bowers had spent the past few years masterminding bombings at Mississippi’s Black churches and, more recently, synagogues as well.
—Jennifer Berry Hawes, ProPublica, 4 Feb. 2026
Rebellion is one of the gravest criminal charges in South Korea, with the independent counsel recently demanding the death penalty for Yoon, who was charged with masterminding a rebellion.
—CNN Money, 22 Jan. 2026
An earlier Times report noted that the home was built in 2003, with Sorrell Design masterminding the architecture.
—Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 19 Jan. 2026
The former president has since been indicted for masterminding an insurrection, abusing power and attempting treason.
—NPR, 3 Dec. 2025
Julie Carr Smyth The Associated Press, Arkansas Online, 12 Mar. 2026
Western officials say Russia is masterminding a campaign of sabotage and disruption across Europe.
—ABC News, 27 Feb. 2026
Under South Korean law, masterminding an insurrection carries a maximum sentence of death or life imprisonment.
—Michael Sinkewicz, FOXNews.com, 19 Feb. 2026
They are accused en masse of masterminding a multi-billion-dollar ripoff of federal funds.
—Robert W. Laird, New York Daily News, 6 Feb. 2026
Bowers had spent the past few years masterminding bombings at Mississippi’s Black churches and, more recently, synagogues as well.
—Jennifer Berry Hawes, ProPublica, 4 Feb. 2026
Rebellion is one of the gravest criminal charges in South Korea, with the independent counsel recently demanding the death penalty for Yoon, who was charged with masterminding a rebellion.
—CNN Money, 22 Jan. 2026
An earlier Times report noted that the home was built in 2003, with Sorrell Design masterminding the architecture.
—Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 19 Jan. 2026
The former president has since been indicted for masterminding an insurrection, abusing power and attempting treason.
—NPR, 3 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for masterminding
Verb
-
They are being hit so hard, anybody would be negotiating.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
28 Mar. 2026
-
The Melreese referendum passed with about 60 percent support from Miami voters in November 2018, allowing the city and Inter Miami to begin negotiating a lease agreement.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
28 Mar. 2026
Verb
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In Minnesota, a man was sentenced to life in prison for plotting the murder of a real estate agent in part by luring her to a bogus showing.—
Tim Stelloh,
NBC news,
29 Mar. 2026
-
Meanwhile, Cam is quietly plotting to reclaim his post, turning every misstep into ammunition.—
Glenn Garner,
Deadline,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
But arranging spheres becomes significantly more complex in higher dimensions, which allow for more arrangements and symmetries.—
Manon Bischoff,
Scientific American,
26 Mar. 2026
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Unbeknownst to Audrey, her cousin had secretly coordinated with several of her closest friends, arranging surprise appearances on the plane and at their destination.—
Ronnie Li,
USA Today,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
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One of her alternate personalities — the cold and calculating Samantha — joins law enforcement to pursue her father’s killers, while other identities begin to surface with their own motives, seducing and manipulating powerful men as Sylvia’s search for justice veers into vengeance.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
18 Mar. 2026
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Adrian Maclean, 52, of Lisbon was arrested twice in connection with an embezzlement scheme police say involved manipulating records in the Hebron Tax Collector’s Office, according to Connecticut State Police.—
Justin Muszynski,
Hartford Courant,
17 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Masterminding.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/masterminding. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.
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