as in negotiating
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 masterminding
They are accused en masse of masterminding a multi-billion-dollar ripoff of federal funds.
—
Robert W. Laird, New York Daily News, 6 Feb. 2026
Rebellion is one of the gravest criminal charges in South Korea, with the independent counsel recently demanding the death penalty for Yoon, who was charged with masterminding a rebellion.
—CNN Money, 22 Jan. 2026
An earlier Times report noted that the home was built in 2003, with Sorrell Design masterminding the architecture.
—Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 19 Jan. 2026
The former president has since been indicted for masterminding an insurrection, abusing power and attempting treason.
—NPR, 3 Dec. 2025
Read and two other women, including Jennifer McCabe, a suburban soccer mom accused of masterminding the cover-up, found him.
—Michael Ruiz , Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 19 Nov. 2025
The British government has not publicly accused anyone of masterminding the hack.
—Kevin Collier, NBC news, 10 Nov. 2025
In addition to masterminding homes all over the world, Pentreath worked closely with King Charles to conceptualize and build Poundbury, the urban housing development in Dorset.
—Air Mail, 8 Nov. 2025
In 1988, the right-wing Cuban terrorist Orlando Bosch arrived in Miami, after serving time in prison for masterminding a series of gruesome bombings.
—Jon Lee Anderson, New Yorker, 29 Sep. 2025
Robert W. Laird, New York Daily News, 6 Feb. 2026
Rebellion is one of the gravest criminal charges in South Korea, with the independent counsel recently demanding the death penalty for Yoon, who was charged with masterminding a rebellion.
—CNN Money, 22 Jan. 2026
An earlier Times report noted that the home was built in 2003, with Sorrell Design masterminding the architecture.
—Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 19 Jan. 2026
The former president has since been indicted for masterminding an insurrection, abusing power and attempting treason.
—NPR, 3 Dec. 2025
Read and two other women, including Jennifer McCabe, a suburban soccer mom accused of masterminding the cover-up, found him.
—Michael Ruiz , Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 19 Nov. 2025
The British government has not publicly accused anyone of masterminding the hack.
—Kevin Collier, NBC news, 10 Nov. 2025
In addition to masterminding homes all over the world, Pentreath worked closely with King Charles to conceptualize and build Poundbury, the urban housing development in Dorset.
—Air Mail, 8 Nov. 2025
In 1988, the right-wing Cuban terrorist Orlando Bosch arrived in Miami, after serving time in prison for masterminding a series of gruesome bombings.
—Jon Lee Anderson, New Yorker, 29 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for masterminding
Verb
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Senator says that's 'bottom line' Still, Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-South Dakota, said Republicans have been negotiating in good faith.—
Terry Collins,
USA Today,
13 Feb. 2026
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The rest of the negotiating team soon arrived, still fresh from their trip to Abu Dhabi.—
Simon Shuster,
The Atlantic,
12 Feb. 2026
Verb
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In 7th place on iSpot’s ranking was Amazon’s Alexa+ spot starring Chris Hemsworth, who runs through several horrifying thought experiments about how the advanced AI might be plotting to murder him in his own home.—
Todd Spangler,
Variety,
9 Feb. 2026
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Fashion Deals If your suitcase is already plotting its next trip, these February clothing and shoe deals are worth a look.—
Chaise Sanders,
Travel + Leisure,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Emails show Epstein’s associates arranging meetings between him and Black from 2010 to 2017.—
Melina Khan,
USA Today,
13 Feb. 2026
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Recent articles in the news report Canada, Mexico, Central and South America arranging trading with countries who don't treat them as stepchildren.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
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In other cases, extremists have been convicted of manipulating children into cutting themselves or even killing pets on camera, records show.—
Curt Devine,
CNN Money,
10 Feb. 2026
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His belief that a conspiratorial coterie of people is manipulating American policy.—
David Remnick,
New Yorker,
6 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Masterminding.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/masterminding. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
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