1
as in ruse
a clever often underhanded means to achieve an end
an e-mail scheme to trick unwary Internet users into disclosing passwords and financial information
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2
as in conspiracy
a secret plan for accomplishing evil or unlawful ends
a scheme to kidnap the president's daughter
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3
as in plan
a method worked out in advance for achieving some objective
a scheme to upgrade the city's mass transit system
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as in to plot
to engage in a secret plan to accomplish evil or unlawful ends
the town inspector had schemed to overlook the contractor's code violations in exchange for a substantial bribe
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of scheme
Dave Smith, Fortune, 25 Oct. 2025
The scheme came to light thanks to monitoring services that track bets and look for unusual patterns.
—NPR, 24 Oct. 2025
Chris Koseluk, HollywoodReporter, 17 Oct. 2025
Dissecting film and scheming up plays went from duty to obsession.
—Brian Hamilton, New York Times, 17 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for scheme
Noun
Police are looking for the employee, who no longer works for Avis Budget and is wanted on grand larceny and scheme to defraud charges.
—Dave Smith, Fortune, 25 Oct. 2025
The scheme came to light thanks to monitoring services that track bets and look for unusual patterns.
—NPR, 24 Oct. 2025
Verb
In Return From the Ashes (1965), Eggar schemed to murder her stepmother (Ingrid Thulin), a concentration camp survivor.
—Chris Koseluk, HollywoodReporter, 17 Oct. 2025
Dissecting film and scheming up plays went from duty to obsession.
—Brian Hamilton, New York Times, 17 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for scheme
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scheme
Noun
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Odysseus, the Ithacan warrior who is as celebrated for craftiness as Achilles is for brute strength, devises a clever ruse in which the Greeks place a giant wooden horse outside Troy’s walls and pretend to sail away.—
Elizabeth D. Samet,
Foreign Affairs,
29 Oct. 2025
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This basement ruse allows the law to be ignored as well as the special zoning requirements for homeless shelters and transitional housing.—
Lou Murray,
Boston Herald,
29 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Jones, now 22, pleaded guilty to manslaughter, conspiracy and two weapons offenses.—
Liam Quinn,
PEOPLE,
26 Oct. 2025
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But last week, the company was declared a transnational criminal organization by United States authorities, and Chen was charged in absentia in New York with money laundering conspiracy and wire fraud conspiracy, along with several associates.—
Helen Regan,
CNN Money,
25 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The Department of Agriculture's funding lapse plan was later removed from the agency's website.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
29 Oct. 2025
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The five cities are believed to be the first of more to come across ICE's 24 field offices nationwide, according to officials familiar with the plans.—
Adeola Adeosun,
MSNBC Newsweek,
28 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
His original, undoctored manuscript even suggests that James might have plotted to have Elizabeth assassinated.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
4 Nov. 2025
-
Curves plotting model performance against size have begun flattening out.—
James Somers,
New Yorker,
3 Nov. 2025
Noun
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And what the pair had was their family firm's bubbling de-icers, $400 electric fan-like devices that, when lowered into the sea, churned warmer water up from below to prevent ice from forming.—
Virginia Chamlee,
PEOPLE,
30 Oct. 2025
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Garbage disposals can flush away food debris on pots and pans in a flash, but anyone who owns one of these devices knows that unpleasant smells are a regular occurrence.—
Taylor Tobin,
Southern Living,
30 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Trump has confirmed what could be one of the largest mobilization strategies for the party-- a 'midterm convention' ahead of the 2026 races.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
3 Nov. 2025
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This past summer, the filmmakers embarked on a cross-country tour, meeting with executives at major theater chains to screen the film and outline their marketing and self-distribution strategy.—
Andreas Wiseman,
Deadline,
3 Nov. 2025
Noun
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In the weeks leading up to Halloween, Newman continues to share wig tips ahead of partying and trick-or-treating.—
Madison E. Goldberg,
PEOPLE,
29 Oct. 2025
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Advertisement Apple and caramel dips Apples are a top-tier fall fruit and a healthy, on-theme choice for trick-or-treaters.—
Angela Haupt,
Time,
28 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The group is building the first facility in Ottawa and plans to replicate the blueprint in cities throughout Canada.—
Tatiana Siegel,
Variety,
28 Oct. 2025
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Roan’s approach has changed the blueprint for tour-look development, marking a stark departure from the standard pop-star playbook followed by the likes of Taylor Swift, Lady Gaga and Madonna, who generally have one wardrobe for the entirety of their tour.—
Katie Weisman,
HollywoodReporter,
27 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Scheme.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scheme. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.
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