mastermind

1 of 2

noun

mas·​ter·​mind ˈma-stər-ˌmīnd How to pronounce mastermind (audio)
ˌmas-tər-ˈ
Synonyms of mastermind
: a person who supplies the directing or creative intelligence for a project

mastermind

2 of 2

verb

masterminded; masterminding; masterminds

transitive verb

: 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
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Noun
Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce are both masterminds in their own right for branding and marketing. Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 4 July 2026 As a fan, Madonna was taking it all in, from club beats to post-punk to early rap — the ultimate disco fan turned into the ultimate disco mastermind. Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 3 July 2026
Verb
The siblings have been there for one another since day one—and Austin’s even been instrumental in masterminding some of his sister’s biggest moments. Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 2 July 2026 Last year, both Karen Read, acquitted of killing her Boston cop boyfriend in June, and Sherri Papini, who served time for masterminding her own 2016 kidnapping in California, participated in documentaries about their cases. Savannah Walsh, Vanity Fair, 18 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for mastermind

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1872, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1927, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of mastermind was in 1872

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Cite this Entry

“Mastermind.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mastermind. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.

Kids Definition

mastermind

noun
mas·​ter·​mind
ˈmas-tər-ˌmīnd
ˌmas-tər-ˈmīnd
: a person who invents or directs a project
mastermind verb

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