1
as in ruses
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 plots
a secret plan for accomplishing evil or unlawful ends
a scheme to kidnap the president's daughter
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3
as in plans
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 intrigues
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 schemes
Courtney Howard, Variety, 30 Oct. 2025
Massive schemes, such as those tied to the nonprofit Feeding Our Future, where fraudsters stole over $250 million in pandemic-era school meal aid, are just one chunk of the theft, according to federal prosecutors.
—Alex Derosier, Twin Cities, 29 Oct. 2025
Many transnational scams now operate entirely through text, unlike the older schemes that used phone calls, and this creates an additional sense of remove.
—Snigdha Poonam, The Dial, 28 Oct. 2025
The Lakers used Sacramento’s aggressive defensive schemes on Reaves against them, opening up scoring chances Ayton, Hachimura and LaRavia.
—Khobi Price, Oc Register, 27 Oct. 2025
For weeks, Shanahan and his staff have been pulling off a high-wire act, using elite schemes and clever coaching to mask the deficiencies of third-stringers and street free agents.
—Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 26 Oct. 2025
College football offensive schemes began to maximize the pass-catching tight end where previously the trend was four-receiver (10 personnel) spread offenses.
—Jourdan Rodrigue, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025
Mafia members allegedly used high-tech tools, along with their old-fashioned racketeering schemes, to help orchestrate major aspects of the criminal operation.
—Nicole Fallert, USA Today, 24 Oct. 2025
Adding further fuel were the recent supply chain scandals in Italy’s high-end pipeline, which linked marquee brands including Dior, Valentino, Loro Piana, Giorgio Armani and Tod’s, among others, to subcontractors allegedly engaged in sweatshop schemes and labor exploitation.
—Martino Carrera, Footwear News, 24 Oct. 2025
Eric Torres, Pitchfork, 27 Aug. 2025
Noun
The hilarious hijinks that ensue are centered on a rugby-playing rascal whose initial interests in pulling chicks and working get-rich-quick schemes give way to a lifelong love of writing poetry in the post-Soviet-occupation era of the 1990s.
—Courtney Howard, Variety, 30 Oct. 2025
Massive schemes, such as those tied to the nonprofit Feeding Our Future, where fraudsters stole over $250 million in pandemic-era school meal aid, are just one chunk of the theft, according to federal prosecutors.
—Alex Derosier, Twin Cities, 29 Oct. 2025
Many transnational scams now operate entirely through text, unlike the older schemes that used phone calls, and this creates an additional sense of remove.
—Snigdha Poonam, The Dial, 28 Oct. 2025
The Lakers used Sacramento’s aggressive defensive schemes on Reaves against them, opening up scoring chances Ayton, Hachimura and LaRavia.
—Khobi Price, Oc Register, 27 Oct. 2025
For weeks, Shanahan and his staff have been pulling off a high-wire act, using elite schemes and clever coaching to mask the deficiencies of third-stringers and street free agents.
—Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 26 Oct. 2025
College football offensive schemes began to maximize the pass-catching tight end where previously the trend was four-receiver (10 personnel) spread offenses.
—Jourdan Rodrigue, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025
Mafia members allegedly used high-tech tools, along with their old-fashioned racketeering schemes, to help orchestrate major aspects of the criminal operation.
—Nicole Fallert, USA Today, 24 Oct. 2025
Adding further fuel were the recent supply chain scandals in Italy’s high-end pipeline, which linked marquee brands including Dior, Valentino, Loro Piana, Giorgio Armani and Tod’s, among others, to subcontractors allegedly engaged in sweatshop schemes and labor exploitation.
—Martino Carrera, Footwear News, 24 Oct. 2025
Verb
Matthew quickly schemes his way into Oliver’s orbit after that first performance, impressing and rankling the group of lackeys in his entourage at the same time.
—Eric Torres, Pitchfork, 27 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for schemes
Noun
-
Many suspect a spam call and don't pick up the phone, leading foundation staff to sometimes devise ruses.—
Kelly Meyerhofer,
jsonline.com,
8 Oct. 2025
-
Episode 4 finds both Ellen and Julia throwing themselves headlong into plans that require them to keep up major ruses.—
Kimberly Roots,
TVLine,
22 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Saratoga residents can lease plots annually with the possibility of renewal.—
Nollyanne Delacruz,
Mercury News,
29 Oct. 2025
-
He is said to have orchestrated the illicit sale of 75 buildings and plots of land between 2021 and 2024.—
Bryan Hood,
Robb Report,
28 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Though Swain has big plans, there has yet to be mass adoption by the traditional stalwarts of PE—the big pension funds, insurers, and endowments.—
Shawn Tully,
Fortune,
1 Nov. 2025
-
No North American or other market plans have been announced as yet.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
31 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The National Fire Protection Association recommends that devices not be charged under a pillow, or on a bed or couch.—
Charna Flam,
PEOPLE,
31 Oct. 2025
-
The team hopes the new battery could power next-generation aircraft, drones, and portable devices.—
Georgina Jedikovska,
Interesting Engineering,
30 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The list of debunks goes on and on and on; moon landing conspiracies, however, have remained persistently popular among some, even inspiring last year’s Fly Me to the Moon starring Scarlett Johansson and Channing Tatum.—
Adam Carlson,
PEOPLE,
30 Oct. 2025
-
My starting point when assessing allegations of huge conspiracies is that secrets become exponentially harder to keep for every extra person who knows about them.—
Helen Lewis,
The Atlantic,
25 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Sleep doctors recommend several strategies parents can use to help teens.—
NPR,
NPR,
2 Nov. 2025
-
Passive House strategies were implemented throughout, and there’s rooftop solar with battery storage, high-efficiency heat pumps, and electric car chargers, among other features.—
Tori Latham,
Robb Report,
31 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The decor is relatively spare, allowing the natural materials to shine and emphasizing clever design tricks like the dining-table bench built into the back of the kitchen island.—
Tori Latham,
Robb Report,
31 Oct. 2025
-
Subscribe today As Halloween looms, Wall Street is balancing tricks and treats.—
Lim Hui Jie,
CNBC,
31 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The article took a more skeptical look at Springsteen’s rise, and the corporate machinations behind it.—
Andy Greene,
Rolling Stone,
27 Oct. 2025
-
The announcement on Friday evening draws a line once and for all, without having to go through the messy machinations of a parliamentary intervention, which would have been required to remove the dukedom.—
Sophie Tanno,
CNN Money,
18 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Schemes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/schemes. Accessed 5 Nov. 2025.
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