as in architects
a person who designs and guides a plan or undertaking
the real mastermind behind the embezzlement scheme
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
as in engineers
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
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Recent Examples of masterminds
Dave Hyde, Sun Sentinel, 26 Jan. 2026
Bormann supported extreme antisemitic measures and was one of the masterminds of the Aryanization project.
—Solly Boussidan, FOXNews.com, 18 Jan. 2026
Defensive masterminds like Tony Dungy, Bill Parcells and Mike Tomlin have also led teams to Super Bowls without direct quarterback coaching experience.
—Mike Jones, New York Times, 8 Jan. 2026
Through mentorship circles, masterminds, and deepening relationships with the community, investments can be made in expanding collective wisdom.
—Jason Phillips, USA Today, 10 Dec. 2025
Yanick Parent, Guillaume Cartigny, and Mychael Blouin are the masterminds behind the quaint restaurant, creating a boisterous menu of traditional Quebecois foods—usually with a gluttonous upgrade.
—Pamela MacNaughtan, Bon Appetit Magazine, 18 Nov. 2025
Fortuna, one of just 18 vessels crafted by the Italian masterminds as part of its Anniversario collection, will give those lucky few the chance to cruise out onto Lago Di Como for around 45 minutes, taking in the Las Vegas sights and the famed Bellagio fountain from a completely new vantage point.
—Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 6 Nov. 2025
The San Diego crew allegedly kept a small percentage of the funds and sent the rest to the scheme’s masterminds in India and elsewhere.
—Alex Riggins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Nov. 2025
During Sunday's interview with Franceinfo radio, Beccuau said the suspects do not appear to be international criminal masterminds.
—ABC News, 3 Nov. 2025
Steven Thrash, Entertainment Weekly, 25 Oct. 2025
Noun
Schneider hired Macdonald to beat offensive masterminds in the NFC West like San Francisco’s Kyle Shanahan and the Los Angeles Rams’ Sean McVay.
—Dave Hyde, Sun Sentinel, 26 Jan. 2026
Bormann supported extreme antisemitic measures and was one of the masterminds of the Aryanization project.
—Solly Boussidan, FOXNews.com, 18 Jan. 2026
Defensive masterminds like Tony Dungy, Bill Parcells and Mike Tomlin have also led teams to Super Bowls without direct quarterback coaching experience.
—Mike Jones, New York Times, 8 Jan. 2026
Through mentorship circles, masterminds, and deepening relationships with the community, investments can be made in expanding collective wisdom.
—Jason Phillips, USA Today, 10 Dec. 2025
Yanick Parent, Guillaume Cartigny, and Mychael Blouin are the masterminds behind the quaint restaurant, creating a boisterous menu of traditional Quebecois foods—usually with a gluttonous upgrade.
—Pamela MacNaughtan, Bon Appetit Magazine, 18 Nov. 2025
Fortuna, one of just 18 vessels crafted by the Italian masterminds as part of its Anniversario collection, will give those lucky few the chance to cruise out onto Lago Di Como for around 45 minutes, taking in the Las Vegas sights and the famed Bellagio fountain from a completely new vantage point.
—Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 6 Nov. 2025
The San Diego crew allegedly kept a small percentage of the funds and sent the rest to the scheme’s masterminds in India and elsewhere.
—Alex Riggins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Nov. 2025
During Sunday's interview with Franceinfo radio, Beccuau said the suspects do not appear to be international criminal masterminds.
—ABC News, 3 Nov. 2025
Verb
The same studio that produced the Godzilla franchise, Toho, masterminds one of the most horrifying and disturbingly humorous psychedelic films to date.
—Steven Thrash, Entertainment Weekly, 25 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for masterminds
Noun
-
After the war, Noel-Baker served as principal assistant to Lord Robert Cecil, one of the architects of the League of Nations (and himself a future Nobel Laureate).—
Amy Crawford,
Popular Science,
29 Jan. 2026
-
Adam Smith’s invisible hand coordinated the investors, architects, builders, and workers spending years getting the property in great shape for me and all of my neighbors.—
Edward Peter Stringham,
Fortune,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The official alleged that the paper engineers a finding by excluding evidence and designing a study with a bias toward showing no association.—
Aria Bendix,
NBC news,
16 Jan. 2026
-
Big Tech now engineers a perpetual state of insecurity by creating relentless technological churn, rendering our skills and safety measures obsolete, only to then sell us the tools to catch up.—
Vivian Toh,
Forbes.com,
17 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
For cyclists, the Coastal Bike Trail plots out a route to see the city and the harbor on two wheels.—
Carolyn Heller,
Forbes.com,
22 Jan. 2026
-
The teacher then plots revenge by secretly staging the most wildly inappropriate musical imaginable to sabotage the principal’s bid for academic glory.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
21 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
OneTeam Partners negotiates media deals and leverages players’ name, image and licensing rights.—
David Carrillo Peñaloza,
New York Times,
23 Jan. 2026
-
President Peter Mutharika, who returned to power in October after vowing to revive the country’s ailing economy, is trying to improve the government’s finances as the country negotiates a new IMF support package.—
semafor.com,
semafor.com,
21 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Laura is able to shove Cherry hard enough to pry Daniel away from her and lock her in the room, but Cherry jumps out of the balcony, sacrificing her ankle, and maneuvers herself back into the house.—
Rafaela Bassili,
Vulture,
10 Sep. 2025
-
In the next part of the scene, Gabriel maneuvers the plane into a roll, forcing Ethan, who is still clinging to the seatbelt, to slam into the side of the plane.—
EW.com,
EW.com,
19 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Meanwhile, Luke and his fellow rebel demigods fall under Kronos’ influence as the Titan manipulates them into helping resurrect him.—
Monica Mercuri,
Forbes.com,
21 Jan. 2026
-
Also, the fact that Stephen’s not physically intense, necessarily, but moreso manipulates mentally with mind games must bring its own challenges.—
Carly Thomas,
HollywoodReporter,
13 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The idea of an in-person meeting is suggested, and several years later, Porter arranges it.—
Sheri Linden,
HollywoodReporter,
28 Jan. 2026
-
An employee arranges a salad dressing display at an Amazon Fresh grocery store on December 12, 2024 in Federal Way, Washington.—
Annie Palmer,
CNBC,
27 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Masterminds.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/masterminds. Accessed 31 Jan. 2026.
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