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
Melina Khan, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2025
Verlander, still very much an outsider in the grand scheme, seemed to understand what was at stake.
—Andrew Baggarly, New York Times, 27 Aug. 2025
Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 18 July 2025
There are, of course, bagpipes spouting off, clan skirmishes, muddy games and critter hunts, and kilts and scheming aplenty.
—Randy Myers, Mercury News, 7 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for scheme
Noun
Since 2014, the scheme brought in around $50 million in crooked donations, the prosecutors' news release said.
—Melina Khan, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2025
Verlander, still very much an outsider in the grand scheme, seemed to understand what was at stake.
—Andrew Baggarly, New York Times, 27 Aug. 2025
Verb
The Phoenician Scheme follows wealthy businessman Zsa-zsa Korda (Benicio del Toro) who is on the run and wanted by myriad governments, the target of scheming tycoons, foreign terrorists and determined assassins.
—Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 18 July 2025
There are, of course, bagpipes spouting off, clan skirmishes, muddy games and critter hunts, and kilts and scheming aplenty.
—Randy Myers, Mercury News, 7 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for scheme
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scheme
Noun
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While Kim Yo-jong was regularly seen smiling with then South Korean President Moon Jae-in, this clearly was all a ruse.—
Natasha Lindstaedt,
Forbes.com,
28 Aug. 2025
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Episode 4 finds both Ellen and Julia throwing themselves headlong into plans that require them to keep up major ruses.—
Kimberly Roots,
TVLine,
22 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Cunningham pleaded guilty in 2005 to conspiracy and tax evasion charges after admitting to accepting at least $2.4 million in bribes in exchange for steering Pentagon contracts.—
Theo Burman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
29 Aug. 2025
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In September 2024, they were indicated on one count each of conspiracy to commit fraud and 11 counts of wire fraud in the U.S. District Court in St. Louis.—
Eric Adler,
Kansas City Star,
29 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Containment is part of a larger plan for managing a wildfire.—
CA WILDFIRE BOT,
Sacbee.com,
29 Aug. 2025
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But their plans quickly changed once the rest of the house began transforming.—
Lennie Omalza,
The Courier-Journal,
29 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Neighbors said they were shaken to learn that the killer had been plotting crimes there undetected, raising questions about whether anyone had noticed the cache of weapons building up inside the rental.—
Michael Dorgan,
FOXNews.com,
31 Aug. 2025
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Even as Westman carefully plotted out the attack, writing as recently as last week about visiting the church, diagramming the interior and testing out weapons, the shooter also hinted at a desire to be caught.—
Allison Gordon,
CNN Money,
28 Aug. 2025
Noun
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The device offers a low-noise design and adjustable suction levels for anxious pets.—
Jessie Quinn,
USA Today,
1 Sep. 2025
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At one point, a bird crashes into the aerial camera, sending the device swirling down to Earth like a meteor bent on a crash land.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
31 Aug. 2025
Noun
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But the kicker, obviously, is that the team that did trade for Parsons is the team that literally invented the strategy the Titans favor.—
Nick Suss,
The Tennessean,
30 Aug. 2025
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That requires a content strategy built for LLM consumption and formats that AI prefers to cite.—
Sixteen Ramos,
USA Today,
30 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Covino deploys some of his favorite tricks, like observing domestic chaos or bliss from the outside looking in (or reverse), and characters performing unexpected songs in order to win over a lover.—
Katie Walsh,
Chicago Tribune,
22 Aug. 2025
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After giving it a go myself, comparing notes with our Test Kitchen, and reviewing Pelosi’s tips and tricks on his website, here are a few pointers that might come in handy along the way: Use your noodle.—
Karla Walsh,
Better Homes & Gardens,
21 Aug. 2025
Noun
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According to Project 2025 Tracker, while the president has distanced himself from the agenda, a total of 317 objectives from the blueprint have been completed throughout Trump's second term and 63 are in progress.—
Aliss Higham,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Aug. 2025
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Our blueprint is clear: refinance $500 million in expensive debt, review and adjust the $30 million dividend, sell non-core assets such as Fuzzy’s, and refresh a board that has been too comfortable for an extended period.—
Jim Osman,
Forbes.com,
24 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Scheme.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scheme. Accessed 3 Sep. 2025.
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