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
Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 24 Feb. 2026
With Parker coming in wanting to play a variety of defensive schemes, Clowney’s body type is somewhat of an issue.
—Dallas Morning News, 24 Feb. 2026
Giving this White House another two years of unchecked power could lead to even more undemocratic schemes from a president who has shown a disdain for our electoral process and no interest in accountability.
—Eric H. Holder Jr, Baltimore Sun, 23 Feb. 2026
His mining deals in Congo, NGOs alleged, relied on schemes like kickbacks and backhanders.
—Nicolas Niarchos, Vanity Fair, 20 Feb. 2026
Similarly, Forensic Accountants are seeing a surge in demand as organizations confront sophisticated, cross-border fraud schemes that leverage AI and require investigative judgment no machine can replicate.
—Lyssanoel Frater, USA Today, 20 Feb. 2026
The researchers also hope their research will aid in designing better quantum correction schemes and extending the coherence time of the qubits.
—Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 20 Feb. 2026
Investigators fielded 398 imposter scam complaints, including fake job offers and online shopping, lottery, romance and Internal Revenue Service and Social Security schemes.
—Lee Rood, Des Moines Register, 20 Feb. 2026
Classical bit commitment schemes are essential building blocks for all sorts of other methods in cryptography.
—Ben Brubaker, Quanta Magazine, 17 Feb. 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
According to an indictment unsealed in Manhattan , founder and CEO Daniel Chu and COO David Goodgame allegedly carried out fraudulent schemes from at least 2018 through September 2025.
—Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 24 Feb. 2026
With Parker coming in wanting to play a variety of defensive schemes, Clowney’s body type is somewhat of an issue.
—Dallas Morning News, 24 Feb. 2026
Giving this White House another two years of unchecked power could lead to even more undemocratic schemes from a president who has shown a disdain for our electoral process and no interest in accountability.
—Eric H. Holder Jr, Baltimore Sun, 23 Feb. 2026
His mining deals in Congo, NGOs alleged, relied on schemes like kickbacks and backhanders.
—Nicolas Niarchos, Vanity Fair, 20 Feb. 2026
Similarly, Forensic Accountants are seeing a surge in demand as organizations confront sophisticated, cross-border fraud schemes that leverage AI and require investigative judgment no machine can replicate.
—Lyssanoel Frater, USA Today, 20 Feb. 2026
The researchers also hope their research will aid in designing better quantum correction schemes and extending the coherence time of the qubits.
—Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 20 Feb. 2026
Investigators fielded 398 imposter scam complaints, including fake job offers and online shopping, lottery, romance and Internal Revenue Service and Social Security schemes.
—Lee Rood, Des Moines Register, 20 Feb. 2026
Classical bit commitment schemes are essential building blocks for all sorts of other methods in cryptography.
—Ben Brubaker, Quanta Magazine, 17 Feb. 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
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The rooms Son Molí Country House spans 12 acres of land, but is home to a modest 22 rooms and suites, which are dotted between the main building (where the old mill can also be found) and independent plots with their own private gardens or balconies overlooking the pool.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
20 Feb. 2026
-
That Sunday afternoon, there were only a handful of gardeners tending their plots.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
19 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Alongside the promise for more nuclear weapons, Kim also reiterated plans for stronger ICBMs, submarine-launch capabilities, and developments involving drones and artificial intelligence.—
Will Ripley,
CNN Money,
26 Feb. 2026
-
The president announced plans to offer those who do not have a retirement savings plan through their employer, such as a 401(k), access to the same plan offered to federal workers.—
Boston Herald editorial staff,
Boston Herald,
26 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
That’s forcing electronics manufacturers to cut down on memory in their devices or focus on making premium products.—
Wayne Chang,
CNN Money,
27 Feb. 2026
-
Some business taxes are based on a flat rate per tax period and others are based on the amount of vehicles, machines, devices or equipment used, the number of employees, square footage of the area, seating capacity, or the scale of fees collected, according to Rodriguez’s motion.—
City News Service,
Daily News,
26 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Kennedy has made no bones about his misplaced skepticism of mRNA vaccines, pinging off the proliferating conspiracies around the COVID vaccines — incredible innovations that saved countless lives during one of the worst global catastrophes in recent memory.—
The Orlando Sentinel,
The Orlando Sentinel,
21 Feb. 2026
-
Of course, complicated government conspiracies, betrayals and high-tech weaponry abound.—
Oline H. Cogdill,
Sun Sentinel,
17 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
How investors should respond to the moment depends on their savings and investment goals — but there are strategies to protect your portfolio during the heightened unease.—
John Towfighi,
CNN Money,
27 Feb. 2026
-
Ask for examples of how the planner builds income strategies rather than just investment portfolios.—
Lauren Schuster,
Miami Herald,
26 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Leftovers Batch cooking and freezing a pan of homemade lasagna or a casserole to pull out on a busy weeknight is one of our favorite tricks for fast dinners.—
Alexandra Emanuelli,
Southern Living,
24 Feb. 2026
-
The 80-year-old musical-theater legend André De Shields, who plays Old Deuteronomy, is an old cat learning new tricks.—
Jason P. Frank,
Vulture,
24 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Not long after, an email arrived with blueprints for the theater — schematics that included a 600-inch screen and two rows of three oversized seats.—
Benjamin Svetkey,
HollywoodReporter,
23 Feb. 2026
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The program includes 250 hours of classroom instruction on subjects such as how to read construction blueprints and construction math, plus 50 hours of hands-on training with power tools and hand tools.—
Janice Neumann,
Chicago Tribune,
23 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Schemes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/schemes. Accessed 2 Mar. 2026.
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