mas·ter·mind
ˈma-stər-ˌmīnd 
ˌmas-tər-ˈ
: a person who supplies the directing or creative intelligence for a project
masterminded; masterminding; masterminds
: to be the mastermind of
Examples of mastermind in a Sentence
Noun
the mastermind behind the terrorist plot
the real mastermind behind the embezzlement scheme
Verb
They masterminded a unique solution to the problem.
He masterminded the bank robbery.
Recent Examples on the Web
Kansas City Star, 22 Jan. 2026
Through large-format gatherings and small entrepreneur mastermind groups, the team focuses on building business owner communities rather than one-off encounters.
—Jason Phillips, USA Today, 22 Jan. 2026
Oscar Holland, CNN Money, 1 Jan. 2026
Cho also said that Yoon had masterminded a plan in October 2023 to suspend the powers of South Korea’s parliament and replace it with an emergency legislative body.
—Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 15 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for mastermind
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Noun
Avalos, the mastermind behind the bar’s menu, has been a bartender for the past 13 years and creates cocktails for Voo Lounge.
—Kansas City Star, 22 Jan. 2026
Through large-format gatherings and small entrepreneur mastermind groups, the team focuses on building business owner communities rather than one-off encounters.
—Jason Phillips, USA Today, 22 Jan. 2026
Verb
Giants like Alibaba, Tencent and Xiaomi have all splashed out on big-name Western architects to mastermind their sprawling campuses and high-rise headquarters in recent years.
—Oscar Holland, CNN Money, 1 Jan. 2026
Cho also said that Yoon had masterminded a plan in October 2023 to suspend the powers of South Korea’s parliament and replace it with an emergency legislative body.
—Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 15 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for mastermind
Cite this Entry
“Mastermind.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mastermind. Accessed 28 Jan. 2026.
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