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
Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 2 Feb. 2026
In practice, tax-the-rich schemes diminish economic vibrancy.
—Wayne Winegarden, Oc Register, 1 Feb. 2026
So far, more than 90 individuals have been charged in schemes tied to housing, autism and meal programs, and more than 50 have been convicted.
—Alex Derosier, Twin Cities, 1 Feb. 2026
Republicans on the committee launched an investigation into Walz's handling of a series of multimillion-dollar fraud schemes in Minnesota last December.
—Kaia Hubbard, CBS News, 30 Jan. 2026
The schemes and skills have expanded from the days when every Big Ten basketball game was a grinder.
—Aaron Heisen, Daily News, 30 Jan. 2026
Some of the protections in the run game, the blocking schemes, the details.
—Dave Hyde, Sun Sentinel, 30 Jan. 2026
Officials say the scammers' schemes range from the savvy to the sloppy -- and all are brazen.
—ABC News, 28 Jan. 2026
Grubhub was previously linked to scam emails promoting crypto schemes, which shows how often attackers abuse trusted names.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 27 Jan. 2026
Erin Clack, PEOPLE, 26 Jan. 2026
Chalamet embodies Marty’s arrant showmanship with an evident joy in performance, exactly as Marty himself schemes not only shamelessly but jubilantly.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 19 Dec. 2025
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
Noun
Nina Gold and Martin Ware build out a Vatican of schemes with the kind of distinctive faces and depth that Leonardo Da Vinci would put in a painting.
—Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 2 Feb. 2026
In practice, tax-the-rich schemes diminish economic vibrancy.
—Wayne Winegarden, Oc Register, 1 Feb. 2026
So far, more than 90 individuals have been charged in schemes tied to housing, autism and meal programs, and more than 50 have been convicted.
—Alex Derosier, Twin Cities, 1 Feb. 2026
Republicans on the committee launched an investigation into Walz's handling of a series of multimillion-dollar fraud schemes in Minnesota last December.
—Kaia Hubbard, CBS News, 30 Jan. 2026
The schemes and skills have expanded from the days when every Big Ten basketball game was a grinder.
—Aaron Heisen, Daily News, 30 Jan. 2026
Some of the protections in the run game, the blocking schemes, the details.
—Dave Hyde, Sun Sentinel, 30 Jan. 2026
Officials say the scammers' schemes range from the savvy to the sloppy -- and all are brazen.
—ABC News, 28 Jan. 2026
Grubhub was previously linked to scam emails promoting crypto schemes, which shows how often attackers abuse trusted names.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 27 Jan. 2026
Verb
Joy Randolph, follows a desperate gallery owner (Portman) who schemes to sell a dead man as art at Art Basel in Miami.
—Erin Clack, PEOPLE, 26 Jan. 2026
Chalamet embodies Marty’s arrant showmanship with an evident joy in performance, exactly as Marty himself schemes not only shamelessly but jubilantly.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 19 Dec. 2025
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
-
In all plots, black circles represent the mean value of each environmental variables at each site, and the lines the SD.—
GrrlScientist,
Forbes.com,
23 Jan. 2026
-
Some films linger in our minds because of their sharp plots, quotable one-liners and unforgettable characters.—
Kailyn Brown,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Savannah Guthrie, who temporarily stepped away from her NBC duties, including plans to co-host the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics, issued a plea through social media asking for prayers and public support as the search continues.—
Claire Carter,
The Washington Examiner,
5 Feb. 2026
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Washington County warehouse The federal government paid more than $100 million to buy a warehouse in Williamsport, Washington County, near Hagerstown, with plans to convert it into an ICE detention center with space for 1,500 beds.—
Mike Hellgren,
CBS News,
4 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
In September, a swarm of Russian drones flew into Poland's airspace, prompting NATO aircraft to scramble to intercept them and shoot down some of the devices.—
DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE STAFF FROM WIRE REPORTS,
Arkansas Online,
6 Feb. 2026
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The countries announced a framework for the agreement in November, saying Argentina would ease restrictions on a range of American imports, including cattle, dairy products, medicines, chemicals, machinery, medical devices and vehicles.—
Isabel Debre,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Set three years after the Imjin War, Kingdom sees a mysterious plague spreading throughout the Joseon Dynasty, which is sure to meddle in the various political conspiracies.—
Sammi Burke,
Entertainment Weekly,
7 Feb. 2026
-
One month later, Turning Point’s flagship conference descended into recriminations over the very controversies and conspiracies that its founder had endeavored so assiduously to suppress.—
Yair Rosenberg,
The Atlantic,
4 Feb. 2026
Noun
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While neighboring vineyards resorted to grafting their vines onto pest-resistant American roots, DRC used various intensive strategies to keep its original European vines intact, at least until the 1940s.—
Pin Yen Tan 9 min ago,
CNN Money,
6 Feb. 2026
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The attempt to create a viable and vibrant residential hub arrives after years of neglect and fumbled strategies by the prior owner, an affiliate of real estate firm Z&L Properties.—
George Avalos,
Mercury News,
5 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Read on for the ultimate guide for how to stack necklaces, complete with eight tips and tricks to achieve the layered look for yourself.—
Abby Morgan Lebet,
Glamour,
3 Feb. 2026
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They were locked in an aerial arms race, trying to one-up each other with more difficult tricks.—
Sean Gregory,
Time,
3 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Initial plans for the development called for more than 600 units in 2024, but developers dramatically scaled back plans when submitting the blueprints in 2025.—
Alysa Guffey,
IndyStar,
5 Feb. 2026
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For that, Timbers and the team found the original blueprints from 1976.—
Carlos Aguilar,
Los Angeles Times,
4 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Schemes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/schemes. Accessed 9 Feb. 2026.
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