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
Nik Kowsar, Time, 2 Oct. 2025
Basic offensive schemes and defensive principles.
—Joe Vardon, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2025
With perpetual technological advancements, graphics have become more realistic, even movie-like, and control schemes have been overhauled to become more comfortable and accessible through iteration.
—George Yang, Rolling Stone, 30 Sep. 2025
Kokang’s capital Laukkaing was at the heart of the country’s multi-billion-dollar scam industry, where trafficked workers were used to defraud strangers with sophisticated online schemes.
—Helen Regan, CNN Money, 30 Sep. 2025
But some of the crazy schemes the Fenian Brotherhood are cooking up are real.
—Keith Phipps, Vulture, 25 Sep. 2025
Was working on Medicare fraud case Rosenzweig worked on dozens of complex cases as a prosecutor in the economic crimes section, which focuses on healthcare fraud, money laundering and other financial schemes.
—Jay Weaver, Miami Herald, 25 Sep. 2025
The funds have bankrolled protests, vote-buying schemes, and destabilization campaigns.
—Dan Perry, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 Sep. 2025
Still, defrauded Coloradans routinely lost thousands of dollars in these schemes.
—Sam Tabachnik, Denver Post, 22 Sep. 2025
Eric Torres, Pitchfork, 27 Aug. 2025
Noun
Reckless schemes like scaling up desalinated seawater transfers will only worsen the damage.
—Nik Kowsar, Time, 2 Oct. 2025
Basic offensive schemes and defensive principles.
—Joe Vardon, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2025
With perpetual technological advancements, graphics have become more realistic, even movie-like, and control schemes have been overhauled to become more comfortable and accessible through iteration.
—George Yang, Rolling Stone, 30 Sep. 2025
Kokang’s capital Laukkaing was at the heart of the country’s multi-billion-dollar scam industry, where trafficked workers were used to defraud strangers with sophisticated online schemes.
—Helen Regan, CNN Money, 30 Sep. 2025
But some of the crazy schemes the Fenian Brotherhood are cooking up are real.
—Keith Phipps, Vulture, 25 Sep. 2025
Was working on Medicare fraud case Rosenzweig worked on dozens of complex cases as a prosecutor in the economic crimes section, which focuses on healthcare fraud, money laundering and other financial schemes.
—Jay Weaver, Miami Herald, 25 Sep. 2025
The funds have bankrolled protests, vote-buying schemes, and destabilization campaigns.
—Dan Perry, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 Sep. 2025
Still, defrauded Coloradans routinely lost thousands of dollars in these schemes.
—Sam Tabachnik, Denver Post, 22 Sep. 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
-
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
-
For all of Liverpool’s plots and schemes, there could be no plan for the fastest final goal in Champions League history, one scored by Paolo Maldini inside the first minute of the game.—
James Pearce,
New York Times,
30 Sep. 2025
-
Those old-fashioned TV-show plots with a premeditated murder committed for some explicable reason, that’s really an anachronism.—
Jennifer Wilson,
New Yorker,
28 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
That led to millions more people getting coverage, some of whom paid little or nothing, and more plans being offered.—
Todd Spangler,
Freep.com,
4 Oct. 2025
-
The apartment's plans have changed over time.—
Bridget Fogarty,
jsonline.com,
3 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
As such, more will be required than a World Cup ticket, particularly because physical tickets are vulnerable to counterfeiting, while electronic devices, which may ordinarily be a way to show authentic tickets, are usually forbidden in consular buildings where interviews take place.—
Adam Crafton,
New York Times,
2 Oct. 2025
-
Nielsen’s streaming ratings cover viewing on TV sets only and don’t include minutes watched on computers or mobile devices.—
Rick Porter,
HollywoodReporter,
2 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Following a six-week trial last fall, CTJ and Si Oh Rhew were found guilty of two conspiracies and multiple counts of failure to file reports of currency transactions.—
Rosemary Feitelberg,
Footwear News,
1 Oct. 2025
-
Federal prosecutors charged Cannon-Grant with three distinct conspiracies.—
Rick Sobey,
Boston Herald,
22 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Different teams have different strategies to negate.—
Jacob Tanswell,
New York Times,
6 Oct. 2025
-
When the photographer Mary Ellen Mark arrived in New York City, in 1966, one of her strategies for finding arresting images was to attend parades and other large gatherings, seeking out subjects not in the main flow of the action but on the periphery.—
Rebecca Mead,
New Yorker,
5 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Whether kids are learning tricks, competing with friends, or just marveling at the floating string, ZipString delivers the perfect mix of science, wonder and fun.—
Emily Glover,
Parents,
2 Oct. 2025
-
For more tips, tricks and the latest updates, make sure to sign up for our weekly newsletter.—
Janet W. Lee,
NPR,
1 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Music industry machinations are mostly to blame; a higher supply of albums means more sales, which translates into chart performance and popularity and plain old checks to cash.—
Heather Bushman,
IndyStar,
1 Oct. 2025
-
Through Jesan’s machinations, it is finally revealed that the Queen Dowager and many court officials campaigned for the execution.—
Kayti Burt,
Time,
29 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Schemes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/schemes. Accessed 9 Oct. 2025.
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