as in cunning
clever at attaining one's ends by indirect and often deceptive means
the novel is about an elderly man and his scheming son who is impatient to inherit the family fortune
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in plotting
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
as in conniving
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
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Recent Examples of scheming
Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 7 Feb. 2025
Many viewed him as being manipulated by his scheming mother, dowager Queen Frederica.
—Demetris Nellas, BostonGlobe.com, 10 Jan. 2023
Los Angeles Times, 18 Mar. 2026
Getting there required some Regency-era scheming.
—Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 26 Feb. 2026
Michael R. Sisak, Chicago Tribune, 28 Apr. 2026
These words are spoken by the scheming Iago in Othello (1603–04) and by the disguised Viola in Twelfth Night (1600–02).
—Gitanjali Roy, Encyclopedia Britannica, 23 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for scheming
Adjective
The doors that slam, as farcical doors are built to do, open to work spaces, where a good deal of time is spent scheming and counter-scheming.
—Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 7 Feb. 2025
Many viewed him as being manipulated by his scheming mother, dowager Queen Frederica.
—Demetris Nellas, BostonGlobe.com, 10 Jan. 2023
Noun
Unfortunately, Daines’ scheming, stick-it-to-the-voters approach isn’t just a Montana Republican thing.
—Los Angeles Times, 18 Mar. 2026
Getting there required some Regency-era scheming.
—Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 26 Feb. 2026
Verb
In a court filing Tuesday, prosecutors said Fairley intends to plead guilty in the sports betting case and a separate case in which he and others are accused of scheming to obtain nonpublic information to bet on college basketball and Chinese Basketball Association games.
—Michael R. Sisak, Chicago Tribune, 28 Apr. 2026
These words are spoken by the scheming Iago in Othello (1603–04) and by the disguised Viola in Twelfth Night (1600–02).
—Gitanjali Roy, Encyclopedia Britannica, 23 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for scheming
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scheming
Adjective
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There’s arguably no one better placed to collaborate with VFX artists on a motion-capture performance than Serkis, who’s delivered innocence, cunning, cruelty, longing, and kindness in roles that run from Golum to Caesar to King Kong himself.—
Sarah Shachat,
IndieWire,
4 May 2026
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As Michael moves into solo stardom and makes cunning business moves, the film captures how his seemingly naive idealism was also a form of ambition.—
Spencer Kornhaber,
The Atlantic,
24 Apr. 2026
Noun
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For that, Quintrell turned directly to Austen’s own plotting.—
Kate Erbland,
IndieWire,
7 May 2026
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Even the film’s critic-defying, pinky-swearing fanbase may be disappointed in the barebones production, jarring plotting, tired dialogue and ham-handed staging.—
Frank Rizzo,
Variety,
23 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
AshleGryre Shop for breezy sundresses, cute beach coverups, bikinis, and raffia platforms at AshleGryre, a fashion-forward women’s boutique right across from Dune House in Atlantic Beach.—
Terry Ward,
Travel + Leisure,
9 May 2026
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Sure, robots can be kitschy and cute, but frankly, their growing presence has begun to irk and distract me, becoming a bit too synonymous with gimmicky pan-Asian hotpot fare.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
7 May 2026
Noun
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It’s being expected that the engine could eventually power future variants of the KAAN stealth fighter program.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
8 May 2026
-
People are increasingly looking to avoid AI features, which makes this 4GB stealth download all the more questionable.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
8 May 2026
Adjective
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Barca supporters were already cheering each pass by the 20th minute, having gone 2-0 up through a brilliant Marcus Rashford free kick and a slick move finished off by Ferran Torres.—
Dermot Corrigan,
New York Times,
10 May 2026
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George, the birthday boy beside her, stuck to his own slick style, wearing a black polo top, off-white pants with a beige belt, and sand suede loafers.—
Anna Cafolla,
Vogue,
9 May 2026
Noun
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When Allegheny County Elections has processed the request, staff will send out a packet of accessible voting material, including a return envelope and a secrecy envelope, as well as an email with instructions for how to access the ballot.—
Finch Walker,
USA Today,
11 May 2026
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Despite the secrecy, television broadcaster Emi Livaniou shared a photo of herself with Karlaftis.—
Pete Grathoff,
Kansas City Star,
11 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Scheming.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scheming. Accessed 14 May. 2026.
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