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
George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Apr. 2026
Klendathu's legions of arachnid drones and plasma-blasting giant beetles are all under the control of a species of giant arthropods that have somehow evolved into strategic masterminds.
—Richard Edwards, Space.com, 2 Apr. 2026
With highly unusual subject matter for a song-and-dance production, this 2024 Olivier Award-winner for Best New Musical chronicles a real-life World War II invasion plan that counted British intelligence officer Ian Fleming — the future creator of James Bond — among its masterminds.
—John Beifuss, Memphis Commercial Appeal, 16 Mar. 2026
Celebrity stylists have long been the masterminds behind some of the most iconic looks in pop culture.
—Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 4 Mar. 2026
Bird, one of the masterminds behind the smash hit Gladiators revival for the BBC, is launching EarlyBird while remaining in the Amazon stable by striking a first-look studio deal with the business.
—Max Goldbart, Deadline, 3 Feb. 2026
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
Steven Thrash, Entertainment Weekly, 25 Oct. 2025
Noun
One of the most notable is being the masterminds of the dozen-plus concert G3 tours that began in 1996 and most recently took place in 2024.
—George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Apr. 2026
Klendathu's legions of arachnid drones and plasma-blasting giant beetles are all under the control of a species of giant arthropods that have somehow evolved into strategic masterminds.
—Richard Edwards, Space.com, 2 Apr. 2026
With highly unusual subject matter for a song-and-dance production, this 2024 Olivier Award-winner for Best New Musical chronicles a real-life World War II invasion plan that counted British intelligence officer Ian Fleming — the future creator of James Bond — among its masterminds.
—John Beifuss, Memphis Commercial Appeal, 16 Mar. 2026
Celebrity stylists have long been the masterminds behind some of the most iconic looks in pop culture.
—Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 4 Mar. 2026
Bird, one of the masterminds behind the smash hit Gladiators revival for the BBC, is launching EarlyBird while remaining in the Amazon stable by striking a first-look studio deal with the business.
—Max Goldbart, Deadline, 3 Feb. 2026
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
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
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Hungry black holes are the hidden architects of the cosmos.—
Lee Billings,
Scientific American,
16 Apr. 2026
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From capped highways covered with greenspaces to the creation of autonomous shuttle buses and mobility hubs, architects, urban planners and even elementary school students presented different ideas for the corridor.—
Desiree Mathurin
April 15,
Charlotte Observer,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Our enterprising Gravedigger, a true woman of science, engineers a lizard elixir and regenerates the finger into a long tentacle that eventually demands a body.—
Katie Walsh,
Los Angeles Times,
27 Mar. 2026
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Setup is seamless thanks to AI Sonic Auto Room Calibration, which engineers the audio to your specific space.—
Juhi Wadia,
PC Magazine,
19 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Robert Pattinson also enters the franchise as the villain Scytale, who plots to end Paul's rule over the universe.—
Tommy McArdle,
PEOPLE,
15 Apr. 2026
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This line plots the current price back 26 periods in time.—
Karl Montevirgen,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Spanish officials have said the government wants to shore up more Chinese investment, and boost exports to the country, even though trade is conducted by the European Union, which negotiates on behalf of all 27 member states.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
13 Apr. 2026
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The Wall Group negotiates all these deals with cosmetics ambassadorships, hair product lines, top luxury brands like Hermès, Louis Vuitton and Prada, all while monitoring the work of stylists’ assistants to see who’s ready to ascend the ladder.—
Merle Ginsberg,
HollywoodReporter,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The correct grip could be the deciding factor in whether an astronaut correctly maneuvers a robotic arm or successfully performs a medical procedure.—
Chelsea Gohd,
Space.com,
20 Apr. 2026
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But at these Olympics, they’ve been seen from above, as a drone operator — a former ski jumper himself — maneuvers a drone behind a skier at the moment of liftoff, high above the ground.—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
14 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Searching for inspiration for her next novel, Elise subtly manipulates the people closest to her like characters in a book.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
16 Apr. 2026
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But is Duncan the devil who manipulates, lies and emotionally blackmails anyone in his orbit?—
Stephen Schaefer,
Boston Herald,
12 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The Vatican facilitates visas and local SIM cards in advance, and arranges hotels and local transportation, allowing reporters to focus on the news rather than logistics.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
16 Apr. 2026
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Jean-Baptiste, who trained as a cellist, arranges his songs—some of which are barely over a minute long—like a chamber cycle punctuated with interludes.—
Emma Madden,
Pitchfork,
14 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Masterminds.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/masterminds. Accessed 23 Apr. 2026.
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