as in negotiated
to plan out usually with subtle skill or care
he was charged with masterminding a plan to redecorate the suite of offices without seriously disrupting business operations
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Recent Examples of masterminded
But for our purposes, what’s important is that Trevor never masterminded any bombings.
—
Judy Berman, Time, 26 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
Cavusoglu also masterminded an editor’s panel.
—Melinda Sheckells, HollywoodReporter, 14 Nov. 2025
Harding is calm under pressure, has run three different newsrooms and, having masterminded Tortoise’s Observer acquisition, now has some commercial chops.
—Max Goldbart, Deadline, 11 Nov. 2025
The elaborate scheme, masterminded by members of four Mafia families in collusion with celebrity athletes, ensnared unsuspecting victims, bleeding them of over $7 million through cunning deception, prosecutors said in the indictment.
—Alaa Elassar, CNN Money, 27 Oct. 2025
In any case, Grace, Hal, and the White House Chief of Staff Billie Appiah (Nana Mensah) go back and forth about how to deal with the impending leak that Grace Penn masterminded the bombing of the ship.
—Trish Deitch, Variety, 17 Oct. 2025
When Hamilton refused him legal help, Reynolds told all who would listen that the Treasury secretary had masterminded his financial chicanery.
—Jane Kamensky, The Atlantic, 10 Oct. 2025
To be sure, Ortega Pérez has masterminded the repositioning and elevation of the brand from high-street chain to cultural player through a robust collaboration strategy.
—Sandra Salibian, Footwear News, 2 Oct. 2025
Judy Berman, Time, 26 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
Cavusoglu also masterminded an editor’s panel.
—Melinda Sheckells, HollywoodReporter, 14 Nov. 2025
Harding is calm under pressure, has run three different newsrooms and, having masterminded Tortoise’s Observer acquisition, now has some commercial chops.
—Max Goldbart, Deadline, 11 Nov. 2025
The elaborate scheme, masterminded by members of four Mafia families in collusion with celebrity athletes, ensnared unsuspecting victims, bleeding them of over $7 million through cunning deception, prosecutors said in the indictment.
—Alaa Elassar, CNN Money, 27 Oct. 2025
In any case, Grace, Hal, and the White House Chief of Staff Billie Appiah (Nana Mensah) go back and forth about how to deal with the impending leak that Grace Penn masterminded the bombing of the ship.
—Trish Deitch, Variety, 17 Oct. 2025
When Hamilton refused him legal help, Reynolds told all who would listen that the Treasury secretary had masterminded his financial chicanery.
—Jane Kamensky, The Atlantic, 10 Oct. 2025
To be sure, Ortega Pérez has masterminded the repositioning and elevation of the brand from high-street chain to cultural player through a robust collaboration strategy.
—Sandra Salibian, Footwear News, 2 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for masterminded
Verb
-
Last year, Canada signed a defense cooperation agreement with the European Union and negotiated a pact that allowed Canadian defense firms to tap into the EU’s $170 billion loan program meant to spur military modernization.—
Daniel DePetris,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Rather than raze the city days before it was recovered by the Allied forces, Choltitz went rogue, negotiated a truce, and surrendered the city.—
Sally Susman,
Time,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
By providing these initial nuclear-grade lithium salts engineered for reactor-grade performance, EnergyX is addressing a massive supply gap that currently leaves national laboratories and private fusion developers without the volumes of material necessary for full-scale commercialization.—
Aman Tripathi,
Interesting Engineering,
31 Jan. 2026
-
The suits for Artemis 2, therefore, are engineered to protect the astronauts inside the Orion spacecraft, in case cabin pressure is lost or the life-support features integrated into the suit are needed.—
Kenna Hughes-Castleberry,
Space.com,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Inside, there are three concentric circles of chairs arranged on a red carpet and, overhead, a white globe resembling a hot-air balloon.—
Emily Nussbaum,
New Yorker,
30 Jan. 2026
-
According to some of the documents, witnesses described a system where Maxwell and Epstein arranged domestic and international travel, provided logistical support for passports, and used modeling fronts to recruit foreign nationals.—
Luke Barr,
ABC News,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
His path here wasn’t plotted out as brand strategy or a pivot to wellness.—
Brock Keeling,
Oc Register,
27 Jan. 2026
-
The novel, lightly plotted, didn’t cry out for a sequel, but Martin’s new Down Time (Farrar, Straus & Giroux) offers a continuation of sorts (in mood at least).—
Chloe Schama,
Vogue,
24 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Higgins stole $356,181 through the scheme and reportedly manipulated the company’s accounting records to conceal her crimes, according to court records.—
Staff Report,
Hartford Courant,
24 Jan. 2026
-
In the alternative hypothesis, the lottery was somehow manipulated.—
Manon Bischoff,
Scientific American,
24 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Masterminded.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/masterminded. Accessed 4 Feb. 2026.
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