Thesaurus results for PLOT

Q: How does the noun 'plot' differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of plot are cabal , conspiracy , intrigue , and machination . While all these words mean "a plan secretly devised to accomplish an evil or treacherous end," plot implies careful foresight in planning a complex scheme. // an assassination plot

Q: When might 'cabal' be a better fit than 'plot'?

The synonyms cabal and plot are sometimes interchangeable, but cabal typically applies to political intrigue involving persons of some eminence. // a cabal among powerful senators

Q: In what contexts can 'conspiracy' take the place of 'plot'?

While in some cases nearly identical to plot , conspiracy implies a secret agreement among several people usually involving treason or great treachery. // a conspiracy to fix prices

Q: When is 'intrigue' a more appropriate choice than 'plot'?

The words intrigue and plot are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, intrigue suggests secret underhanded maneuvering in an atmosphere of duplicity. // backstairs intrigue

Q: When could 'machination' be used to replace 'plot'?

Although the words machination and plot have much in common, machination implies a contriving of annoyances, injuries, or evils by indirect means. // the machinations of a party boss

plot 1 of 2

noun

ˈplät

Definition of plot

as in scheme

a secret plan for accomplishing evil or unlawful ends the Secret Service uncovered just in time a plot to assassinate the President

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

as in field

a small area of usually open land grew vegetables in a little plot

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in property

a small piece of land that is developed or available for development subdivided the old farm into plots for tract houses

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in story

the unfolding of events in a dramatic or literary work wrote novels in which the plot was always subordinate to the characterizations

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plot

2 of 2

verb

ˈplät

as in to scheme

to engage in a secret plan to accomplish evil or unlawful ends mobsters were caught plotting to take over the company

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun plot differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of plot are cabal, conspiracy, intrigue, and machination. While all these words mean "a plan secretly devised to accomplish an evil or treacherous end," plot implies careful foresight in planning a complex scheme.

an assassination plot

When might cabal be a better fit than plot?

The synonyms cabal and plot are sometimes interchangeable, but cabal typically applies to political intrigue involving persons of some eminence.

a cabal among powerful senators

In what contexts can conspiracy take the place of plot?

While in some cases nearly identical to plot, conspiracy implies a secret agreement among several people usually involving treason or great treachery.

a conspiracy to fix prices

When is intrigue a more appropriate choice than plot?

The words intrigue and plot are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, intrigue suggests secret underhanded maneuvering in an atmosphere of duplicity.

backstairs intrigue

When could machination be used to replace plot?

Although the words machination and plot have much in common, machination implies a contriving of annoyances, injuries, or evils by indirect means.

the machinations of a party boss

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 plot

Noun

On the 9/11 anniversary in 2009, investigators uncovered an al Qaeda plot to attack the New York City subway system with homemade bombs at two of its busiest stations. — Mark Morales, CNN Money, 10 Sep. 2026 The landing party story gets much less space than the Reeger plot, but there’s enough of it to make this a real stand-out episode for Nyota. — Keith Phipps, Vulture, 10 Sep. 2026

Verb

Apple, Amazon, CenturyLink, DirecTV, Dish Network, Hulu, Sony, T-Mobile—just about anyone in the digital entertainment or telecommunications industries appeared to be plotting their own attempts at online TV. — Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 1 Sep. 2026 There’s also growing evidence that building a career inside a firm continues to be a more reliable route to success than trying to plot a path across companies. — Matthew Bidwell, Fortune, 28 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for plot

Recent Examples of Synonyms for plot

Noun

Smith, though, is still adjusting to coach Mike Macdonald’s defensive scheme.

— Andrew Destin, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2026
The bigger those two factor primes are, conventional thinking goes, the harder their multiplication is to undo—a sentiment that has made RSA one of the world’s most popular encryption schemes since its debut nearly a half-century ago.

— Peter Hall, Scientific American, 4 Sep. 2026

Definition of scheme

Noun

Colonizers call it voluntary emigration, but there is nothing voluntary about fleeing after your home has been bombed, your fields poisoned, your water cut off and your child buried.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 11 Sep. 2026
Before the Bills made this decision, NFL field director Nick Pappas wanted to meet with the Highmark Stadium grounds crew to see the field for himself.

— Tim Graham, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of field

Noun

In 2010, researchers at Northumbria University discovered that a particular species of tart cherries, the Montmorency variety, contained anti-oxidative properties because of their high levels of polyphenols — particularly a type named anthocyanins.

— Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
The van was on airport property, while the SUV was outside the airport perimeter.

— Karissa Waddick, USA Today, 7 Sep. 2026

Definition of property

Noun

This insight could lead to more accurate care for those with urinary tract symptoms.

— Brittney Melton, NPR, 2 Sep. 2026
Although Salmonella primarily originates in the intestinal tracts of people and animals, including insects and birds, the bacterium is commonly found in the environment.

— Kimberly Baker, The Conversation, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of tract

Noun

In August, the court, powered by its 6-3 conservative majority, blocked an earlier order by that judge on procedural grounds.

— Reuters, USA Today, 9 Sep. 2026
If voted out, LSU could explore suing the conference on multiple grounds, including breach of contract and tortious interference with contractual relations, and seek many millions of dollars in damages.

— Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 9 Sep. 2026

Definition of ground

Noun

With the Angels, Plan A for Kroenke is almost certainly building a new ballpark and community on the Angel Stadium site, the kind of large urban parcel that is rarely available, and better yet close to freeways and public transit.

— Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times, 3 Sep. 2026
The tax will apply to parcels within the school district, which covers much of the city of Sacramento south of the American River and stretches east into Rancho Cordova.

— Chaewon Chung, Sacbee.com, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of parcel

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“Plot.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/plot. Accessed 12 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of plot

noun

verb

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