1
as in ruse
a clever often underhanded means to achieve an end
an e-mail scheme to trick unwary Internet users into disclosing passwords and financial information
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2
as in conspiracy
a secret plan for accomplishing evil or unlawful ends
a scheme to kidnap the president's daughter
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3
as in plan
a method worked out in advance for achieving some objective
a scheme to upgrade the city's mass transit system
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as in to plot
to engage in a secret plan to accomplish evil or unlawful ends
the town inspector had schemed to overlook the contractor's code violations in exchange for a substantial bribe
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of scheme
Richard Edwards, Space.com, 13 Feb. 2026
Hawley claimed that Ellison and his family profited from the scheme.
—Sarah Davis, The Hill, 12 Feb. 2026
Matt Grobar, Deadline, 27 Jan. 2026
Randy’s social life involved a scheming posse of white-supremacist survivalists who wanted to fight the ZOG (Zionist Occupied Government) by, say, forcing IRS agents to walk naked through the woods.
—Dan Piepenbring, Harpers Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for scheme
Noun
The other flavor is the solo villain, a species of independent combatants who've generally developed some kind of beef with Starfleet, and will stop at nothing to ensure their destructive schemes — which may or may not have galactic significance — come to fruition.
—Richard Edwards, Space.com, 13 Feb. 2026
Hawley claimed that Ellison and his family profited from the scheme.
—Sarah Davis, The Hill, 12 Feb. 2026
Verb
Reuther plays Jarl Sigurd, the Jarl of Hladir, a scheming Norwegian jarl and ally of Haakon (Levi Miller), the younger half-brother of Erik Bloodaxe (Molyneux).
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 27 Jan. 2026
Randy’s social life involved a scheming posse of white-supremacist survivalists who wanted to fight the ZOG (Zionist Occupied Government) by, say, forcing IRS agents to walk naked through the woods.
—Dan Piepenbring, Harpers Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for scheme
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scheme
Noun
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Because telling Starfleet that the Furies are part Lynar, and particularly susceptible to high sonic frequencies, is just an ingenious ruse.—
Richard Edwards,
Space.com,
13 Feb. 2026
-
Kenton County Commonwealth's Attorney Rob Sanders said at trial that the custody exchange on the day of the shooting was a ruse for Payne to talk his way back into Lane's life.—
Quinlan Bentley,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
10 Feb. 2026
Noun
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In December, the judges ruled Lai was the mastermind of the conspiracies and never wavered in his intention to destabilize the ruling Chinese Communist Party.—
Kanis Leung,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Feb. 2026
-
The indictment document is sealed, though the Associated Press reported that Lemon is facing charges related to conspiracy and violating the Freedom of Access to Clinic Act.—
Erin Glynn,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
7 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Football fans, now is the time to set yourself a reminder to make early Valentine’s Day plans for next year.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Feb. 2026
-
Republicans last year cut about $1 trillion over a decade from Medicaid and declined to extend covid-19-era subsidies that had lowered the cost of health plans under the Affordable Care Act.—
ALI SWENSON,
Arkansas Online,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Many are in critical mineral companies as the White House plots a strategy to directly back mining companies to build a domestic supply chain and reduce dependence on China.—
Spencer Kimball,
CNBC,
7 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
Noun
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Seven of the 12 finalists fell in their first run in snowy conditions, which made landing tricks more of a challenge.—
Sean Gregory,
Time,
13 Feb. 2026
-
Van Der Beek, twisting his remarkable life into a piece of comedy, pulled the same kind of trick.—
Megan Garber,
The Atlantic,
12 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Jim's stock market commentary , market analysis , stock pick breakdowns , and Club Members' Mailbag offer an MBA-caliber finance education that is easy to absorb and apply to your personal investing strategies.—
,
CNBC,
13 Feb. 2026
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Now, platforms like ReelShort and DramaBox are testing out a similar strategy but leaning into low-budget, soapy series, instead.—
Lauren Wilson,
NBC news,
13 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The company's smart glasses success is the latest sign that the adoption of wearable AI devices is gaining momentum with consumers.—
Samantha Subin,
CNBC,
11 Feb. 2026
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The company specializes in and has become an industry leader in wireless connectivity and connected devices.—
Karoline Leonard,
Austin American Statesman,
11 Feb. 2026
Noun
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This is a far more reliable blueprint for a party’s resurrection than anything drawn up at a think tank.—
Mark Leibovich,
The Atlantic,
11 Feb. 2026
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The way these vaccines work is by delivering a copy of messenger RNA, which acts like a blueprint for cells to make proteins.—
Jackie Flynn Mogensen,
Scientific American,
11 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Scheme.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scheme. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
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