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
George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Apr. 2026
Klendathu's legions of arachnid drones and plasma-blasting giant beetles are all under the control of a species of giant arthropods that have somehow evolved into strategic masterminds.
—Richard Edwards, Space.com, 2 Apr. 2026
Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 29 Mar. 2026
As the story goes, fresh off university and broke in 1996, Ralph Anderl, alongside friends Philipp Haffmans and Harald Gottschling, masterminded the screwless invention, decided to apply it to stainless-steel eyewear and wore some prototype pairs to a gallery event in Berlin.
—Martino Carrera, Footwear News, 20 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for mastermind
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Noun
One of the most notable is being the masterminds of the dozen-plus concert G3 tours that began in 1996 and most recently took place in 2024.
—George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Apr. 2026
Klendathu's legions of arachnid drones and plasma-blasting giant beetles are all under the control of a species of giant arthropods that have somehow evolved into strategic masterminds.
—Richard Edwards, Space.com, 2 Apr. 2026
Verb
Court records show Wamuigah participated in a business email compromise scheme masterminded by Okechuckwu Valentine Osuji of Nigeria.
—Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 29 Mar. 2026
As the story goes, fresh off university and broke in 1996, Ralph Anderl, alongside friends Philipp Haffmans and Harald Gottschling, masterminded the screwless invention, decided to apply it to stainless-steel eyewear and wore some prototype pairs to a gallery event in Berlin.
—Martino Carrera, Footwear News, 20 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for mastermind
Cite this Entry
“Mastermind.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mastermind. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
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