1
as in Mafias
a group involved in secret or criminal activities
members of the conspiracy recognized each other by a secret handshake
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2
as in complicities
a secret agreement or cooperation between two parties for an illegal or dishonest purpose
a conspiracy among the leading manufacturers to fix prices
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3
as in schemes
a secret plan for accomplishing evil or unlawful ends
several generals were engaged in a conspiracy to overthrow the government
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of conspiracies
The Night Agent Brought together by a midnight phone call, an FBI agent and a cybersecurity expert must unravel an ever-growing web of political conspiracies.
—
Dana Feldman, Forbes, 28 Dec. 2024
After a period co-founding a video game company, West started flying airplanes and learned about the conspiracies that accompany aircraft, according to his author biography on Amazon.
—Stephen Pastis, Forbes, 20 Dec. 2024
Maricopa County Supervisor Clint Hickman won't seek reelection in November, a decision that blows the race for his seat wide open and adds to the list of election officials leaving their posts amid a wave of unfounded voting conspiracies and threats.
—Sasha Hupka, The Arizona Republic, 17 Dec. 2024
Congressional statutes outlaw conspiracies to intimidate people in the enjoyment of their federal rights.
—The Editors, National Review, 13 Dec. 2024
Parents and children of many of the victims testified in court that they were traumatized by Jones’ conspiracies and threats from his followers.
—Dave Collins, Los Angeles Times, 11 Dec. 2024
Parents and children of many of the victims testified in court that they were traumatized by Jones' conspiracies and threats from his followers.
—CBS News, 11 Dec. 2024
That has led to consternation that the Chiefs get all the right bounces — and even some conspiracies that the officials are manipulating things for Kansas City.
—Jeff Fedotin, Forbes, 11 Dec. 2024
As with most conspiracies on the internet, the truth is often far less interesting than the most outlandish theories.
—Lucy Ford, TIME, 10 Dec. 2024
Dana Feldman, Forbes, 28 Dec. 2024
After a period co-founding a video game company, West started flying airplanes and learned about the conspiracies that accompany aircraft, according to his author biography on Amazon.
—Stephen Pastis, Forbes, 20 Dec. 2024
Maricopa County Supervisor Clint Hickman won't seek reelection in November, a decision that blows the race for his seat wide open and adds to the list of election officials leaving their posts amid a wave of unfounded voting conspiracies and threats.
—Sasha Hupka, The Arizona Republic, 17 Dec. 2024
Congressional statutes outlaw conspiracies to intimidate people in the enjoyment of their federal rights.
—The Editors, National Review, 13 Dec. 2024
Parents and children of many of the victims testified in court that they were traumatized by Jones’ conspiracies and threats from his followers.
—Dave Collins, Los Angeles Times, 11 Dec. 2024
Parents and children of many of the victims testified in court that they were traumatized by Jones' conspiracies and threats from his followers.
—CBS News, 11 Dec. 2024
That has led to consternation that the Chiefs get all the right bounces — and even some conspiracies that the officials are manipulating things for Kansas City.
—Jeff Fedotin, Forbes, 11 Dec. 2024
As with most conspiracies on the internet, the truth is often far less interesting than the most outlandish theories.
—Lucy Ford, TIME, 10 Dec. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for conspiracies
Noun
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Why pull back the curtain on the inner machinations of the athletic department about 24 hours before their most important game of the season?—
Edward Lee,
Baltimore Sun,
25 Mar. 2025
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Sexual insecurity is what makes this great military man so vulnerable to Iago’s machinations.—
Chris Jones,
Chicago Tribune,
24 Mar. 2025
Noun
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And our definition of social media was to converse about the over-the-top shenanigans of the fictional Ewing, Channing and Carrington clans at the proverbial office watercooler.—
Marc Berman,
Forbes,
26 Dec. 2024
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In 2020, the California Fish and Game Commission made six lion clans a candidate for protection under the state Endangered Species Act, and are expected to decide whether to permanently list them next year.—
Lila Seidman,
Los Angeles Times,
12 Dec. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Conspiracies.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/conspiracies. Accessed 3 May. 2025.
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