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
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
26 June 2026
Shah was charged by indictment earlier this month with conspiracy to commit health care fraud and wire fraud and health care fraud, stemming from a $64 million scheme that also allegedly submitted fraudulent Medicare claims for DME, the DOJ said.
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Angie Dimichele,
Sun Sentinel,
26 June 2026
Wilson Chapman,
IndieWire,
12 June 2026
Detective John Bolden, 47, a 20-year NYPD veteran who retired from the force in October, schemed to fleece the federal Paycheck Protection Program, which offered loans to small businesses forced to close or at risk of closing during the COVID pandemic.
—
John Annese,
New York Daily News,
3 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for scheme
Noun
Kara and Ruthye team up to find the antidote, save the super-pup and foil the Brigands' intergalactic human-trafficking scheme.
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Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
26 June 2026
Shah was charged by indictment earlier this month with conspiracy to commit health care fraud and wire fraud and health care fraud, stemming from a $64 million scheme that also allegedly submitted fraudulent Medicare claims for DME, the DOJ said.
—
Angie Dimichele,
Sun Sentinel,
26 June 2026
Verb
Nonetheless, the series evolves into an elaborate soap opera over its 39 episodes, with complex scheming characters opposing Utena, her relationship with Anthy serving as the lodestar that guides this tragedy towards its ambiguous conclusion.
—
Wilson Chapman,
IndieWire,
12 June 2026
Detective John Bolden, 47, a 20-year NYPD veteran who retired from the force in October, schemed to fleece the federal Paycheck Protection Program, which offered loans to small businesses forced to close or at risk of closing during the COVID pandemic.
—
John Annese,
New York Daily News,
3 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for scheme
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scheme
Noun
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Early the next morning, the authorities were at Burdette’s door, this time without a ruse.
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Of course, this could all be a literally and figurative swift ruse on the part of the Miss Americana superstar and her Super Bowl-winning fiancé.
Noun
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Because everyone will have access to the same information, AI will accentuate the value of personal connections, again promoting lineages and networks that at their most extreme may appear to be sinister establishment conspiracies.
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Previous cloud-seeding controversies Cloud seeding is now at the center of the rise in weather‑control conspiracy narratives after disasters, such as the tragic Texas floods of 2025 that killed dozens of people, many of them children.
Noun
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Democrats say the Republican plan would hurt low- and middle-income Georgians, who would end up paying more in taxes.
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Secure loose outdoor items and adjust plans as necessary so you're not caught outside.
Verb
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The fair's conferences were held at the Art Institute, and on the current site of La Rabida Hospital was a recreation of the La Rabida convent in Spain, where Columbus plotted his voyages.
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Everyone loved it, without pretense, staying up late to watch it and then plotting our own stunts the next day.
Noun
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Boutique gems, new offers win the day Elevated VIP-style vacays with truffles, oysters and bubbly are attainable with some tips and tricks.
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Sora Shirai captured victory after maintaining his lead through the best trick section, while teammates Kairi Netsuke and Toa Sasaki climbed from the bottom of the leaderboard with clutch final tricks to complete a Japanese podium sweep.
Noun
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Perhaps with that base-mobilization strategy in mind, the Republican National Committee is planning to hold a first-ever midterm convention this summer.
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Building resilience Stephanie Niven, co-portfolio manager of the Global Sustainable Equity strategy at Ninety One, told CNBC on a call on Friday that her team took the view that the rise of intense weather conditions in Europe was creating a structural growth opportunity for investment.
Noun
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Those who rely on custom mobility devices still have to fly commercial or find another way to get to the games, and risk damage to their wheelchairs in the process.
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These devices are a direct answer to that problem.
Noun
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Board member Mark Parker’s move to become executive chairman at Nike seemed to offer a blueprint.
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Unintentionally, many businesses make this blueprint easy to follow.
Cite this Entry
“Scheme.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scheme. Accessed 29 Jun. 2026.
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