1
as in ruse
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 conspiracy
a secret plan for accomplishing evil or unlawful ends
a scheme to kidnap the president's daughter
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3
as in plan
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 to plot
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 scheme
Melanie Kalmanson, Sun Sentinel, 25 Mar. 2025
A lot depends on what Johnson considers Kmet’s ceiling in his scheme.
—Kevin Fishbain, The Athletic, 25 Mar. 2025
William Lambers, Newsweek, 8 Mar. 2025
This season Parker Posey, Patrick Schwarzenegger, Michele Monaghan, Walter Goggins and Jason Isaac are among those meditating, scheming and watching the monkeys in Thailand.
—Michael Goldstein, Forbes, 7 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for scheme
Noun
Two proposals seek to add aggravating factors to Florida’s capital sentencing scheme — one for capital crimes committed at certain gatherings and the other for capital crimes committed against heads of state.
—Melanie Kalmanson, Sun Sentinel, 25 Mar. 2025
A lot depends on what Johnson considers Kmet’s ceiling in his scheme.
—Kevin Fishbain, The Athletic, 25 Mar. 2025
Verb
The veteran tight end is one of the more athletic around the NFL and teams had to scheme against him.
—William Lambers, Newsweek, 8 Mar. 2025
This season Parker Posey, Patrick Schwarzenegger, Michele Monaghan, Walter Goggins and Jason Isaac are among those meditating, scheming and watching the monkeys in Thailand.
—Michael Goldstein, Forbes, 7 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for scheme
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scheme
Noun
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Not least because the ruse allows for a Putin or two to die while another survives without toppling the edifice built by the original one.—
Melik Kaylan,
Forbes,
22 Mar. 2025
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The defendants never believed the ruse and within hours were sending threatening messages to Rendon, according to prosecutors.—
Alex Riggins,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
20 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Michael was found not guilty of three counts of neglect and conspiracy to commit neglect of a dependent in 2022, while the charges against Kristine were dropped shortly after.—
Monica Mercuri,
Forbes.com,
26 Mar. 2025
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How ‘chemtrails’ went from conspiracy to legislation Even before Kennedy’s new position, conspiracies about geoengineering and chemtrails ran rampant online.—
Ramishah Maruf, Brandon Miller,
CNN,
25 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Schumer has received backlash since helping to avert a government shutdown by aiding the Republicans in passing their stopgap spending plan over the objection of the majority of his fellow Democratic Senators and House Democrats.—
Rebecca Schneid,
TIME,
23 Mar. 2025
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Growing football in his home town is a long-term plan, but in the immediate future Richard is fixed on growing in English football with Palace.—
Greg O'Keeffe,
The Athletic,
23 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Less than a month into the job, Trump and the Japanese Prime Minister plotted their response to a North Korean missile launch in the open-air patio of Mar a Lago, photos of which ended up on Facebook.—
Philip Elliott,
Time,
26 Mar. 2025
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During his trial at the Constitutional Court last month, Han denied plotting martial law with Yoon.—
Gawon Bae,
CNN,
24 Mar. 2025
Noun
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The overhaul also will bring changes to the agency that scrutinizes the safety of prescription drugs, food and medical devices.—
Nicole Fallert,
USA Today,
28 Mar. 2025
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There, Carrie inherits the patent for his electromagnetic device and, to better understand it and him, connects with his collaborators, and enters the vortex of their conspiracies.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
28 Mar. 2025
Noun
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His successor, Lip-Bu Tan, appointed earlier this month, has yet to set out his strategy.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
27 Mar. 2025
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The lawmakers pressed Hamilton to explain the change in strategy.—
Tony Briscoe,
Los Angeles Times,
27 Mar. 2025
Noun
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This chip also drives many of the phone's artificial intelligence features, and allows the Pixel 9a to take advantage of all the same AI camera tricks introduced on the Pixel 9 smartphones in 2024.—
Julian Chokkattu,
WIRED,
19 Mar. 2025
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Adopting a 12-step routine full of fancy tricks and hacks simply isn’t necessary.—
Angela Haupt,
TIME,
18 Mar. 2025
Noun
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The Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025, a sweeping proposal outlining a far-right vision for the country, offered a blueprint.—
Collin Binkley,
Chicago Tribune,
21 Mar. 2025
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Indonesia’s first-ever Minister of Culture, Fadli Zon, has outlined an ambitious blueprint for the nation’s cultural growth, with special emphasis on developing the country’s rapidly expanding film industry.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
21 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Scheme.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scheme. Accessed 1 Apr. 2025.
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