as in calculating
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
as in scheming
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
as in planning
to engage in a secret plan to accomplish evil or unlawful ends
mobsters were caught plotting to take over the company
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 plotting
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
20 June 2026
Still, there’s plenty of extraordinary plotting early on, too, that foregrounds the strangeness of the heroes’ journeys.
—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
16 June 2026
The length exacerbates all the rest of the series' sins, including a lack of emotional depth, gratuitous suffering and violence, long stretches of boring, listless plotting and extraneous characters.
—
Kelly Lawler,
USA Today,
4 June 2026
Which was widely panned for its unrealistic plot, laughable dialogue, and inexplicable plotting.
—
Ian Miller Outkick,
FOXNews.com,
2 June 2026
But here’s where the plotting turns ridiculously tidy.
—
Scott Tobias,
Vulture,
24 May 2026
Who is murdered, why and Clare’s entanglement in the whole deal unfold over the remainder of the novel, featuring much tighter and more plausible plotting than your average suspense story.
—
John Warner,
Chicago Tribune,
16 May 2026
For that, Quintrell turned directly to Austen’s own plotting.
—
Kate Erbland,
IndieWire,
7 May 2026
Even the film’s critic-defying, pinky-swearing fanbase may be disappointed in the barebones production, jarring plotting, tired dialogue and ham-handed staging.
—
Frank Rizzo,
Variety,
23 Apr. 2026
Tanasia Kenney,
Charlotte Observer,
22 June 2026
Five men were charged on June 16 for allegedly plotting to kill government officials and others attending the Ultimate Fighting Championship event at the White House on June 14, the Department of Justice said.
—
Shira Li Bartov,
Sun Sentinel,
22 June 2026
The storied Italian menswear brand, controlled by Qatari fund Mayhoola, has ambitions to further grow its direct-to-consumer business and is plotting freestanding Pal Zileri stores in key fashion capitals over the next five years, such as London, Paris, Madrid and New York.
—
Luisa Zargani,
Footwear News,
22 June 2026
This doesn’t mean elite parents sit around plotting class reproduction over brunch.
—
Rob Henderson,
Washington Post,
21 June 2026
Mangione is accused of meticulously plotting Thompson's assassination and traveling across the country to ambush him outside a business conference in New York City, where neither of them lived.
—
Michael Ruiz , Ashley Papa,
FOXNews.com,
18 June 2026
Here, in rooms more accustomed to hosting bingo nights, dance classes, sports watch parties and weddings, Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham’s campaign team is plotting his return to parliament.
—
Issy Ronald,
CNN Money,
17 June 2026
Two Ukrainian men have been found guilty of plotting arson attacks last year on property relating to Keir Starmer.
—
Elliott Goat,
TheWeek,
17 June 2026
One month before the Professional Women’s Hockey League draft, Caroline Harvey and Laila Edwards were plotting.
—
Hailey Salvian,
New York Times,
16 June 2026
Noun
Battle, conspiracy, plotting, and some new faces in the cast.
—
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
20 June 2026
Still, there’s plenty of extraordinary plotting early on, too, that foregrounds the strangeness of the heroes’ journeys.
—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
16 June 2026
The length exacerbates all the rest of the series' sins, including a lack of emotional depth, gratuitous suffering and violence, long stretches of boring, listless plotting and extraneous characters.
—
Kelly Lawler,
USA Today,
4 June 2026
Which was widely panned for its unrealistic plot, laughable dialogue, and inexplicable plotting.
—
Ian Miller Outkick,
FOXNews.com,
2 June 2026
But here’s where the plotting turns ridiculously tidy.
—
Scott Tobias,
Vulture,
24 May 2026
Who is murdered, why and Clare’s entanglement in the whole deal unfold over the remainder of the novel, featuring much tighter and more plausible plotting than your average suspense story.
—
John Warner,
Chicago Tribune,
16 May 2026
For that, Quintrell turned directly to Austen’s own plotting.
—
Kate Erbland,
IndieWire,
7 May 2026
Even the film’s critic-defying, pinky-swearing fanbase may be disappointed in the barebones production, jarring plotting, tired dialogue and ham-handed staging.
—
Frank Rizzo,
Variety,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
Registration filed with the North Carolina Secretary of State’s Office earlier this year suggests the all-day café is also plotting a location in the Eastover/Myers Park area.
—
Tanasia Kenney,
Charlotte Observer,
22 June 2026
Five men were charged on June 16 for allegedly plotting to kill government officials and others attending the Ultimate Fighting Championship event at the White House on June 14, the Department of Justice said.
—
Shira Li Bartov,
Sun Sentinel,
22 June 2026
The storied Italian menswear brand, controlled by Qatari fund Mayhoola, has ambitions to further grow its direct-to-consumer business and is plotting freestanding Pal Zileri stores in key fashion capitals over the next five years, such as London, Paris, Madrid and New York.
—
Luisa Zargani,
Footwear News,
22 June 2026
This doesn’t mean elite parents sit around plotting class reproduction over brunch.
—
Rob Henderson,
Washington Post,
21 June 2026
Mangione is accused of meticulously plotting Thompson's assassination and traveling across the country to ambush him outside a business conference in New York City, where neither of them lived.
—
Michael Ruiz , Ashley Papa,
FOXNews.com,
18 June 2026
Here, in rooms more accustomed to hosting bingo nights, dance classes, sports watch parties and weddings, Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham’s campaign team is plotting his return to parliament.
—
Issy Ronald,
CNN Money,
17 June 2026
Two Ukrainian men have been found guilty of plotting arson attacks last year on property relating to Keir Starmer.
—
Elliott Goat,
TheWeek,
17 June 2026
One month before the Professional Women’s Hockey League draft, Caroline Harvey and Laila Edwards were plotting.
—
Hailey Salvian,
New York Times,
16 June 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.
-
And experts believe that his intuitive style could throw the more calculating Caruana, who has faced time crunches already in this championship, off-balance.
Noun
-
The family dramas and professional scheming can’t hold a candle to Succession.
-
Rivals – Season 2 (Hulu) Set in Britain in the 80s’, the series is about the scheming and politics of TV broadcast in the Thatcher era.
Verb
-
Now, supporters are planning to speak out at an Alameda School Board meeting, hoping to reverse the decision or at least get answers.
-
Turkey is planning strict security measures for the summit, including banning demonstrations and restricting access to roads leading to airports, as well as sealing off areas around the summit venue and hotels hosting delegations.
Adjective
-
The film follows cybersecurity expert Daniel Kellner (Josh O’Connor), who lifts secret files about the existence of aliens from Wardex, a covert non-government organization that used to employ him.
-
The investigation also linked the activity to China based on IP addresses associated with a LinkedIn account and a Gmail account tied to the covert recruitment scheme.
Noun
-
In January, Rein Security emerged from stealth to create a platform that actually tracks what AI agents do.
-
Nguyen’s startup, Radical Numerics, emerged from stealth with a $50 million seed round led by Emergence Capital, Fortune has learned exclusively.
Adjective
-
Related Stories Known to be a rebellious royal and a surreptitious anti-fascist, Maria José then moved to Portugal and soon left her husband.
-
TiVo is often chastised for being surreptitious about its data collection practices and its failure to provide a clear privacy policy.
Noun
-
Though the plans are cloaked in secrecy, tabloids suggest something is set to happen on July 3 in New York, possibly something involving Madison Square Garden.
-
So, the path of least resistance is secrecy.
Adjective
-
Some may be announced publicly; others may happen in more clandestine ways.
-
But clandestine flows aren’t the biggest factor behind the market calm.
Cite this Entry
“Plotting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/plotting. Accessed 27 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
