SCHEMING Synonyms: 188 Similar and Opposite Words

scheming 1 of 3

adjective

ˈskē-miŋ

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

scheming

2 of 3

noun

as in plotting

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Dissimilar Words

scheming

3 of 3

verb

present participle of scheme

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

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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 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

Alliances will be formed, scheming will begin, intense challenges will take place and contestants will be voted out. —

Christopher Kuhagen, jsonline.com, 25 Feb. 2026 As the friends and business rivals debate their level of responsibility and decide on a course of action, the weekend descends into scheming, politicking, and violence. —

Ilana Gordon, Entertainment Weekly, 10 Feb. 2026

Verb

Former City Councilwoman Tiawana Brown’s daughter admitted to scheming with her family to use fake documents and steal pandemic relief money from the federal government. —

Julia Coin, Charlotte Observer, 1 Apr. 2026 Mabel quickly realizes that the glade’s inhabitants have not left of their own accord but have been pushed out by the scheming mayor, Jerry (Jon Hamm). —

David Sims, The Atlantic, 26 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for scheming

Recent Examples of Synonyms for scheming

Adjective

Past friends and former associates described him to me as an exceptionally cunning con man, a consummate charmer, and a womanizer.

— Nate Freeman, Vanity Fair, 3 Apr. 2026
Starring Charlize Theron, Taron Egerton, and Eric Bana, the film was shot on location in the Australian wilderness and features Theron as a grieving woman on a solo adventure who becomes the target of a cunning killer (Egerton) in a twisted game of cat-and-mouse.

— Abid Rahman, HollywoodReporter, 1 Apr. 2026