as in calculating
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as in scheming
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as in planning
to engage in a secret plan to accomplish evil or unlawful ends
mobsters were caught plotting to take over the company
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Recent Examples of plotting
Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 18 Feb. 2026
The script was rushed, the plotting tangled and confusing.
—Glenn Whipp, Los Angeles Times, 17 Feb. 2026
There’s a tension, too, between the observant realism of Layton’s style and the derivativeness of the plotting, though the three leads, all superb, smooth it over with considerable skill.
—Justin Chang, New Yorker, 13 Feb. 2026
Not a single critic of the book was struck by the incongruity of this failure in basic thriller plotting.
—Literary Hub, 5 Feb. 2026
But this is a romance show, and most of its recurring conflicts are romantic, so the rest of Bridgerton’s plotting has to be fairly frictionless to ensure that its depictions of love and lust are as dramatic as possible.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 30 Jan. 2026
The plotting, Truist claims, began in August 2022 when Rocco, Lovell, and other Grandbridge employees allegedly met with Colliers executives to discuss working together, all without the knowledge of Truist or its head of commercial real estate.
—Charlotte Observer, 29 Jan. 2026
Invincible is one of the best superhero shows on TV, blending intense and often gory action with smart plotting and character development, clever storytelling, a refreshingly earnest protagonist and an incredible cast.
—Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 21 Jan. 2026
Sons of Anarchy was praised for its stellar writing, operatic plotting, and cast of actors who breathed vivid life into their characters, giving even the most savage moments a dose of humanity.
—Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 16 Jan. 2026
John Hopewell, Variety, 23 Feb. 2026
The staff at this school is plotting a secret wedding … for the principal.
—Ronnie Li, USA Today, 18 Feb. 2026
Investigators reportedly said the suspect confessed to plotting the murder of his sister since Christmas.
—Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 18 Feb. 2026
And even though the suspect is accused of plotting the hotel attack and a second terrorist strike, and of personally killing five people in a third attack, the first-degree murder law he’s charged under also covers accidental, presumably non-violent deaths.
—John Annese, Mercury News, 17 Feb. 2026
And there was the theory that characters were plotting their revenge on him to take place at the wedding.
—Senior Television, Los Angeles Times, 17 Feb. 2026
Now Lyle is plotting a much different ending.
—Bobby Narang, Chicago Tribune, 17 Feb. 2026
The 54-year-old entertainer made such an impression on viewers during his on-air stint at the 2024 Summer Olympics that NBC execs had already begun plotting to bring him back for the Milan Games well before the torch was extinguished in Paris.
—Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 13 Feb. 2026
The planetary moonwalk commences on the 26th, twelve days after Valentine’s Day, and is plotting and sussing out the story, so beware of mishaps, missteps, unforeseen issues, travel delays, the resurrection of exes, and awkward moments.
—Lisa Stardust, Refinery29, 12 Feb. 2026
Noun
While Revere was central to the ride and its plotting, Kennedy will highlight myriad other men and women who proved crucial to the events that helped set in motion what would lead to America’s independence.
—Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 18 Feb. 2026
The script was rushed, the plotting tangled and confusing.
—Glenn Whipp, Los Angeles Times, 17 Feb. 2026
There’s a tension, too, between the observant realism of Layton’s style and the derivativeness of the plotting, though the three leads, all superb, smooth it over with considerable skill.
—Justin Chang, New Yorker, 13 Feb. 2026
Not a single critic of the book was struck by the incongruity of this failure in basic thriller plotting.
—Literary Hub, 5 Feb. 2026
But this is a romance show, and most of its recurring conflicts are romantic, so the rest of Bridgerton’s plotting has to be fairly frictionless to ensure that its depictions of love and lust are as dramatic as possible.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 30 Jan. 2026
The plotting, Truist claims, began in August 2022 when Rocco, Lovell, and other Grandbridge employees allegedly met with Colliers executives to discuss working together, all without the knowledge of Truist or its head of commercial real estate.
—Charlotte Observer, 29 Jan. 2026
Invincible is one of the best superhero shows on TV, blending intense and often gory action with smart plotting and character development, clever storytelling, a refreshingly earnest protagonist and an incredible cast.
—Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 21 Jan. 2026
Sons of Anarchy was praised for its stellar writing, operatic plotting, and cast of actors who breathed vivid life into their characters, giving even the most savage moments a dose of humanity.
—Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 16 Jan. 2026
Verb
Despite a pathological fear of climbing after a tragic accident, Aaron sets off to rescue sister Seren in stunning Snowdonia, colliding with a far-right faction plotting a violent outrage in the local mountains.
—John Hopewell, Variety, 23 Feb. 2026
The staff at this school is plotting a secret wedding … for the principal.
—Ronnie Li, USA Today, 18 Feb. 2026
Investigators reportedly said the suspect confessed to plotting the murder of his sister since Christmas.
—Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 18 Feb. 2026
And even though the suspect is accused of plotting the hotel attack and a second terrorist strike, and of personally killing five people in a third attack, the first-degree murder law he’s charged under also covers accidental, presumably non-violent deaths.
—John Annese, Mercury News, 17 Feb. 2026
And there was the theory that characters were plotting their revenge on him to take place at the wedding.
—Senior Television, Los Angeles Times, 17 Feb. 2026
Now Lyle is plotting a much different ending.
—Bobby Narang, Chicago Tribune, 17 Feb. 2026
The 54-year-old entertainer made such an impression on viewers during his on-air stint at the 2024 Summer Olympics that NBC execs had already begun plotting to bring him back for the Milan Games well before the torch was extinguished in Paris.
—Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 13 Feb. 2026
The planetary moonwalk commences on the 26th, twelve days after Valentine’s Day, and is plotting and sussing out the story, so beware of mishaps, missteps, unforeseen issues, travel delays, the resurrection of exes, and awkward moments.
—Lisa Stardust, Refinery29, 12 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for plotting
Adjective
-
Even Alex becomes too entangled in her students’ dealings and ends up suffering at the hands of one of the more calculating boys.—
Rebekah Frumkin,
Washington Post,
6 Sep. 2019
-
And experts believe that his intuitive style could throw the more calculating Caruana, who has faced time crunches already in this championship, off-balance.—
Joshua Robinson,
WSJ,
27 Nov. 2018
Noun
-
As the friends and business rivals debate their level of responsibility and decide on a course of action, the weekend descends into scheming, politicking, and violence.—
Ilana Gordon,
Entertainment Weekly,
10 Feb. 2026
-
Sandoval is both behind and in front of the camera in Moonglow, playing a scheming if ultimately tenderhearted femme fatale with the classic film noir name of Dahlia.—
Jordan Mintzer,
HollywoodReporter,
4 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The administration is planning to make that clear in issuing new regulations.—
Nora Gámez Torres,
Miami Herald,
25 Feb. 2026
-
The position’s duties include planning and assigning the work of custodial staff; overseeing an accurate system of inmate count; supervising the movement of employees, inmates, and visitors; and inspecting incoming and outgoing vehicles, materials, and supplies for the presence of contraband.—
Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado
Updated February 24,
Sacbee.com,
24 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
My mornings have now turned into a covert tactical operation.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
21 Feb. 2026
-
How Jacob Monroe became a tragic figure In some ways, the President’s downfall can be traced back to Jacob’s decades-long obsession with Raul Zapata, a Mexican businessman and the covert leader of the LFS terrorist organization.—
Jake Kring-Schreifels,
Time,
19 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Xenomorphs, meanwhile, tried to overwhelm humans and Yautja with a mix of speed and stealth (camping while glued to a ceiling to jump-scare enemies never got old).—
Fran Ruiz,
Space.com,
15 Feb. 2026
-
The beetle, Sceptobius lativentris, even smaller than the ant, turns off its own pheromones to go stealth.—
Lila Seidman,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
None was required for that surreptitious exchange– two dollars for a warm burrito neatly wrapped.—
Krista Kafer,
Denver Post,
5 Feb. 2026
-
That surreptitious tally of deaths recorded by hospitals stood at 30,304 as of Friday, according to Dr. Amir Parasta, a German-Iranian eye surgeon who prepared a report of the data.—
Kay Armin Serjoie,
Time,
25 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Maxwell’s attorneys said the Justice Department obtained the documents — otherwise subject to secrecy orders — improperly during its criminal investigation of Maxwell.—
Michael R. Sisak,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Feb. 2026
-
The Justice Department recently asked a judge to lift secrecy requirements on the files.—
Michael R. Sisak,
Chicago Tribune,
21 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
But have they always been convinced the members of those bands are in clandestine relationships with each other?—
Bethy Squires,
Vulture,
23 Feb. 2026
-
Nearly a quarter of the trips were to Canada, where LAPD personnel went to learn about best practices in investigating human trafficking and clandestine drug labs.—
Andrew J. Campa,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Plotting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/plotting. Accessed 27 Feb. 2026.
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