masterminding

verb

present participle of mastermind
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 masterminding Russian war bloggers responded to Fedorov’s dismissal with glee, noting his role in masterminding long-range drone strikes on oil facilities that have caused a fuel crisis and midrange attacks that disrupted military logistics. — ABC News, 21 July 2026 After a series of personal setbacks, Ingrid moves to Los Angeles to be closer to Taylor, masterminding their meeting and worming her way into her inner circle. — Brianna Zigler, Entertainment Weekly, 15 July 2026 The siblings have been there for one another since day one—and Austin’s even been instrumental in masterminding some of his sister’s biggest moments. — Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 2 July 2026 Last year, both Karen Read, acquitted of killing her Boston cop boyfriend in June, and Sherri Papini, who served time for masterminding her own 2016 kidnapping in California, participated in documentaries about their cases. — Savannah Walsh, Vanity Fair, 18 June 2026 Johnson was convicted of capital murder on March 19, 2003, for masterminding the 1999 shooting. — Kc Baker, PEOPLE, 2 June 2026 Then revive ancient accusations of Jews masterminding a political conspiracy and engaging in ritual murder and dismemberment. — David Frum, The Atlantic, 21 May 2026 Adán Fúnez, a former mayor of the city of Tocoa, was captured at his home on suspicion of masterminding the killing, after years of accusations by religious and environmental leaders. — Marlon González, Los Angeles Times, 13 May 2026 Dior beauty experts will be masterminding the services. — Jennifer Weil, Footwear News, 12 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for masterminding
  1. negotiating
  2. plotting
  3. arranging
  4. manipulating
Verb
  • Traffic through the waterway remains low and although Iran and Oman are negotiating over the waterway, there are no immediate signs of a deal.
    — Charlotte Reck, CNN Money, 16 Aug. 2026
  • He may be entitled to dislike the Supreme Court’s answer but he is really not entitled to keep fidgeting with it as though a constitutional Supreme Court judgment were merely a negotiating position.
    — Andy J. Semotiuk, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of negotiating
Verb
  • According to charging documents, the teens were allegedly plotting to rob Wright and displayed guns during a video call.
    — Adam Thompson, CBS News, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Which, again, is perfectly fine for parallel parking but not particularly helpful in trail course plotting.
    — Andrew P. Collins, The Drive, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of plotting
Verb
  • After retiring from working in 2019, Norris enjoyed growing and arranging flowers from her yard.
    — Bob Goldsborough, Chicago Tribune, 14 Aug. 2026
  • The morning of the wedding could be spent escaping the madness for a moment of peace among the trees, or arranging a pre-wedding morning coffee overlooking the estate.
    — Olivia Morelli, Condé Nast Traveler, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of arranging
Verb
  • Sandoval’s ex, Dillon Maquindang, stood at a podium Thursday morning and decried the defendant for cheating on them, manipulating them and taking out his failures on Maquindang’s family.
    — James Queally, Los Angeles Times, 13 Aug. 2026
  • In recent years, totalizing ideologies such as communism, fascism, and Islamism have found dedicated audiences on social media, and the proliferation of demagogues manipulating people for malign ends is an ever-present worry.
    — James Kirchick, The Atlantic, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of manipulating

Browse Nearby Words

masterminded
masterminding
masterminds
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Cite this Entry

“Masterminding.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/masterminding. Accessed 21 Aug. 2026.

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