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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in plots
a secret plan for accomplishing evil or unlawful ends
a scheme to kidnap the president's daughter
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in plans
a method worked out in advance for achieving some objective
a scheme to upgrade the city's mass transit system
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
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 schemes
Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 6 Nov. 2025
The company now has a consumer alert on its website warning visitors of such schemes.
—Emily Lorsch, NBC news, 6 Nov. 2025
However, the tale of a grieving husband and father quickly unraveled as Murdaugh’s laundry list of financial crimes – and elaborate cover-up schemes – against his legal clients came to light.
—Julia Bonavita, FOXNews.com, 5 Nov. 2025
The forum was not necessarily to discuss and participate in the same plot, but to discuss their own separate schemes, the official said.
—Mark Morales, CNN Money, 5 Nov. 2025
Virginia and Maryland are examples of blue states that are pursuing their own redistricting schemes.
—David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 5 Nov. 2025
The harder things are getting a play in the huddle, getting the operation right, getting us into the right play, handling the protection schemes, and then making accurate throws.
—Robert Marvi, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2025
He has rightfully been hailed as one of the best assistant coaches in the league, a mastermind who deploys his troops in schemes that play tricks on quarterbacks and cause offensive coordinators to lose sleep.
—Alec Lewis, New York Times, 1 Nov. 2025
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
Eric Torres, Pitchfork, 27 Aug. 2025
Noun
The new season finds the Shazam moving company battling corporate giant Zenithon Logistics, while Everett (Jae) drags the team through increasingly desperate schemes such as insurance scams, bogus grant applications and a basement AirBnb conversion gone wrong.
—Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 6 Nov. 2025
The company now has a consumer alert on its website warning visitors of such schemes.
—Emily Lorsch, NBC news, 6 Nov. 2025
However, the tale of a grieving husband and father quickly unraveled as Murdaugh’s laundry list of financial crimes – and elaborate cover-up schemes – against his legal clients came to light.
—Julia Bonavita, FOXNews.com, 5 Nov. 2025
The forum was not necessarily to discuss and participate in the same plot, but to discuss their own separate schemes, the official said.
—Mark Morales, CNN Money, 5 Nov. 2025
Virginia and Maryland are examples of blue states that are pursuing their own redistricting schemes.
—David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 5 Nov. 2025
The harder things are getting a play in the huddle, getting the operation right, getting us into the right play, handling the protection schemes, and then making accurate throws.
—Robert Marvi, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2025
He has rightfully been hailed as one of the best assistant coaches in the league, a mastermind who deploys his troops in schemes that play tricks on quarterbacks and cause offensive coordinators to lose sleep.
—Alec Lewis, New York Times, 1 Nov. 2025
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
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
-
The New York Colored American reported that some offers of short-term work for Black men — moving livestock to or from Kentucky, for example — were ruses that ended with kidnappings.—
Equal Justice Initiative,
USA Today,
6 Nov. 2025
-
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
Noun
-
The €25 million (about $27 million) glass-and-stone residence, part coastal hideaway, part statement about where the island’s luxury market is headed, sprawls across three levels on two hillside plots.—
Abby Montanez,
Robb Report,
6 Nov. 2025
-
There are also 10 plots in Montparnasse cemetery, home to writers Jean-Paul Sartre, Simone de Beauvoir and Susan Sontag, as well as 10 more in Montmartre cemetery, where painter Edgar Degas, author Émile Zola and dancer Vaslav Nijinsky are all buried.—
Jack Guy,
CNN Money,
5 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Many clubs across the English football pyramid, such as Manchester City and Leeds United, have posted on their websites about their Remembrance Day plans for this weekend.—
Eduardo Tansley,
New York Times,
8 Nov. 2025
-
While it's left some passengers making backup plans and reserving rental cars, the flights canceled Friday represented just a small portion of overall flights nationwide.—
JOSH FUNK,
Arkansas Online,
8 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Since launching in 2012, Candy Crush Saga has remained one of the most popular games on mobile devices, accruing millions of daily players.—
Christopher Cruz,
Rolling Stone,
6 Nov. 2025
-
On the hardware side over 10+ million devices have been built around a recovery phrase by default, entrenching a market expectation in which seed phrases are the go-to recovery method, even as some vendors add alternatives.—
Wyles Daniel,
USA Today,
6 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
But other influencers are using the war as an opportunity to peddle antisemitic conspiracies.—
Geoff Brumfiel,
NPR,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Theories about this abound—all have their evidentiary shortcomings—but Greenblatt agrees with a common one that sees Marlowe traveling to France and uncovering Catholic conspiracies against the Crown.—
Isaac Butler,
The Atlantic,
3 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Lightweight luggage, versatile clothing, and clever carry-on strategies that anticipate the little headaches most travelers overlook.—
Rosie Marder,
Travel + Leisure,
9 Nov. 2025
-
Despite over a century of investigation, there is still no cure, but advances in diagnostic tools, treatments and preventive strategies continue to offer hope for slowing the disease and improving quality of life for patients and caregivers.—
The San Diego Union Tribune,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
8 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Cherki is visibly excited by his spectators, eager to show off his tricks, until a coach comes into frame on the YouTube video and tells them their fun is over.—
Jordan Campbell,
New York Times,
8 Nov. 2025
-
Cheo was a jokester and would play tricks on her, like pretending to be asleep, to lighten the mood.—
Kevin G. Hall,
Miami Herald,
7 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Urban development in America has never been just about buildings, budgets, or blueprints.—
Fahad Zuberi,
Time,
5 Nov. 2025
-
For the most part, these blueprints have been geared at spurring growth and unity as the nation transformed from a rural, agrarian economy to an urbanized, developed powerhouse.—
Shaoyu Yuan,
The Conversation,
5 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Schemes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/schemes. Accessed 19 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share