as in intrigue
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Recent Examples of counterplot
Don Aucoin, BostonGlobe.com, 31 July 2019
There’s something comforting about the normalcy of plot and counterplot, action and intrigue.
—Mike Hale, New York Times, 13 Jan. 2017
Noun
Bit by bit, the castle at Elsinore (broodingly rendered by scenic designer Lee Savage) turns into a stage for life-and-death plots and counterplots.
—Don Aucoin, BostonGlobe.com, 31 July 2019
There’s something comforting about the normalcy of plot and counterplot, action and intrigue.
—Mike Hale, New York Times, 13 Jan. 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for counterplot
Noun
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There’s plenty of lingering intrigue at the end of this season, and the possibility of another child is bound to shake things up even further when the series returns.—
Barry Levitt,
Time,
5 June 2025
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Traffic jams can become sources of intrigue, rather than just a bad way to start your day.—
Lorraine Besser,
The Conversation,
5 June 2025
Verb
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Crucially, what matters—the criteria for selection, on which continued evolution depends—also changes, plotting a wholly novel course.—
Philip Ball,
Wired News,
8 June 2025
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In 2022, a U.S. drone strike in Afghanistan killed bin Laden's successor, Ayman al-Zawahri, who also helped plot 9/11.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
8 June 2025
Noun
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Thus the movie’s financial and martial machinations take place within a more elemental family drama: in order to win his daughter’s allegiance and affection, Zsa-zsa must pursue a mock-Shakespearean plot of fratricidal revenge.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
29 May 2025
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But her machinations also serve as an extreme example of complicity against which Pabst’s more subtly evolving behavior can be measured.—
Gal Beckerman,
The Atlantic,
6 May 2025
Verb
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There’s going to be a queen in there trying to get the show director job, who will lie and scheme.—
Joey Nolfi Updated,
EW.com,
7 June 2025
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Of course, [opponents] are going to do their best to scheme it up.—
Antwan Staley,
New York Daily News,
29 May 2025
Noun
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The only safe refuge, 20 miles away, is the federal garrison at Harpers Ferry, but reaching it will require much subterfuge and even more luck.—
Alida Becker,
New York Times,
30 Apr. 2025
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Remember when Russia was that pesky geopolitical force who’s own constant secrecy and subterfuge brought about the downfall of its imperial ambitions?—
Harrison Richlin,
IndieWire,
8 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Daybell, 51, was found guilty on Thursday of conspiring to kill Brandon Boudreaux, the ex-husband of her niece, in October 2019, according to The Associated Press, as well as local outlets ABC 15 and NBC 12.—
Sean Neumann,
People.com,
13 June 2025
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In his motion, Brindley accused the U.S. Attorney’s Office of knowingly conspiring to use information protected by attorney-client privilege, including information procured from one of Kelly’s cellmates.—
Christie D’Zurilla,
Los Angeles Times,
13 June 2025
Noun
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Another alleged the fight was a conspiracy between Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, to gain footing by leveraging the pop star's high-profile.—
Nicole Fallert,
USA Today,
6 June 2025
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Bongino updated Fox News host Sean Hannity on the investigation into the Epstein file as conspiracies continue to float that he was murdered in prison.—
Greg Wehner,
FOXNews.com,
5 June 2025
Verb
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These have almost exclusively been in carefully contrived experiments that almost beg the AI to misbehave—for example, by asking it to pursue its goal at all costs.—
Harry Booth,
Time,
3 June 2025
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But inexplicably, Villa contrived to lose the game, thanks in no small part to goalkeeper Emi Martinez’s sending off in the first half for a bizarre body-check on Rasmus Hojlund.—
Zak Garner-Purkis,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Counterplot.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/counterplot. Accessed 16 Jun. 2025.
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