1
as in ruses
a clever often underhanded means to achieve an end
an e-mail scheme to trick unwary Internet users into disclosing passwords and financial information
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in plots
a secret plan for accomplishing evil or unlawful ends
a scheme to kidnap the president's daughter
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in plans
a method worked out in advance for achieving some objective
a scheme to upgrade the city's mass transit system
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in intrigues
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of schemes
Kathleen Wong, USA Today, 10 Feb. 2026
Gary needs investment and development, but none of the three Bears schemes promise more than isolated cash machines.
—Edward Keegan, Chicago Tribune, 8 Feb. 2026
There, the political and commercial elites don’t shy away from murder to defend potentially corrupt schemes.
—Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 6 Feb. 2026
Toronto police officers Barnhardt, Robert Black, Saurabjit Bedi and Carl Grellette were also charged, and were allegedly involved in bribery schemes orchestrated by Da Costa, Hogan said.
—CBS News, 6 Feb. 2026
More than $700 million of that was in autism service programs, where federal investigators have uncovered fraud schemes, though again, the report noted those savings don’t necessarily imply there was fraud.
—Alex Derosier, Twin Cities, 6 Feb. 2026
Both teams had to adjust their offenses, plan new defensive schemes and make changes to their starting lineups.
—Janis Carr, Oc Register, 5 Feb. 2026
Nina Gold and Martin Ware build out a Vatican of schemes with the kind of distinctive faces and depth that Leonardo Da Vinci would put in a painting.
—Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 2 Feb. 2026
Some of the protections in the run game, the blocking schemes, the details.
—Dave Hyde, Sun Sentinel, 30 Jan. 2026
Erin Clack, PEOPLE, 26 Jan. 2026
Chalamet embodies Marty’s arrant showmanship with an evident joy in performance, exactly as Marty himself schemes not only shamelessly but jubilantly.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 19 Dec. 2025
Matthew quickly schemes his way into Oliver’s orbit after that first performance, impressing and rankling the group of lackeys in his entourage at the same time.
—Eric Torres, Pitchfork, 27 Aug. 2025
Noun
While countries like Greece and New Zealand have opened more ways for people to obtain a golden visa, others have closed their schemes.
—Kathleen Wong, USA Today, 10 Feb. 2026
Gary needs investment and development, but none of the three Bears schemes promise more than isolated cash machines.
—Edward Keegan, Chicago Tribune, 8 Feb. 2026
There, the political and commercial elites don’t shy away from murder to defend potentially corrupt schemes.
—Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 6 Feb. 2026
Toronto police officers Barnhardt, Robert Black, Saurabjit Bedi and Carl Grellette were also charged, and were allegedly involved in bribery schemes orchestrated by Da Costa, Hogan said.
—CBS News, 6 Feb. 2026
More than $700 million of that was in autism service programs, where federal investigators have uncovered fraud schemes, though again, the report noted those savings don’t necessarily imply there was fraud.
—Alex Derosier, Twin Cities, 6 Feb. 2026
Both teams had to adjust their offenses, plan new defensive schemes and make changes to their starting lineups.
—Janis Carr, Oc Register, 5 Feb. 2026
Nina Gold and Martin Ware build out a Vatican of schemes with the kind of distinctive faces and depth that Leonardo Da Vinci would put in a painting.
—Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 2 Feb. 2026
Some of the protections in the run game, the blocking schemes, the details.
—Dave Hyde, Sun Sentinel, 30 Jan. 2026
Verb
Joy Randolph, follows a desperate gallery owner (Portman) who schemes to sell a dead man as art at Art Basel in Miami.
—Erin Clack, PEOPLE, 26 Jan. 2026
Chalamet embodies Marty’s arrant showmanship with an evident joy in performance, exactly as Marty himself schemes not only shamelessly but jubilantly.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 19 Dec. 2025
Matthew quickly schemes his way into Oliver’s orbit after that first performance, impressing and rankling the group of lackeys in his entourage at the same time.
—Eric Torres, Pitchfork, 27 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for schemes
Noun
-
The New York Colored American reported that some offers of short-term work for Black men — moving livestock to or from Kentucky, for example — were ruses that ended with kidnappings.—
Equal Justice Initiative,
USA Today,
6 Nov. 2025
-
Many suspect a spam call and don't pick up the phone, leading foundation staff to sometimes devise ruses.—
Kelly Meyerhofer,
jsonline.com,
8 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
That is, the hundreds of news clippings that substantiate her plots.—
Jon Wertheim,
CBS News,
9 Feb. 2026
-
Abu Assi was believed to have taken part in holding deceased hostages in captivity while directing terrorist plots against IDF troops.—
Emma Bussey,
FOXNews.com,
5 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Silberfeld’s optimism arose from the agency’s apparent backtracking from plans unveiled in a January court hearing to install up to 800 tiny homes on the property.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Feb. 2026
-
The concern in February is that others could knock you off your game; someone slick could kick out your confidence, someone disloyal could out your plans before time.—
Magi Helena,
Dallas Morning News,
11 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
In September, a swarm of Russian drones flew into Poland's airspace, prompting NATO aircraft to scramble to intercept them and shoot down some of the devices.—
DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE STAFF FROM WIRE REPORTS,
Arkansas Online,
6 Feb. 2026
-
The countries announced a framework for the agreement in November, saying Argentina would ease restrictions on a range of American imports, including cattle, dairy products, medicines, chemicals, machinery, medical devices and vehicles.—
Isabel Debre,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Even if few of the wildest conspiracies found material support, his cultural imprint grew only larger.—
Dan Adler,
Vanity Fair,
14 Feb. 2026
-
Kennedy has made no bones about his misplaced skepticism of mRNA vaccines, pinging off the proliferating conspiracies around the COVID vaccines — incredible innovations that saved countless lives during one of the worst global catastrophes in recent memory.—
New York Daily News Editorial Board,
New York Daily News,
13 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
While neighboring vineyards resorted to grafting their vines onto pest-resistant American roots, DRC used various intensive strategies to keep its original European vines intact, at least until the 1940s.—
Pin Yen Tan 9 min ago,
CNN Money,
6 Feb. 2026
-
The attempt to create a viable and vibrant residential hub arrives after years of neglect and fumbled strategies by the prior owner, an affiliate of real estate firm Z&L Properties.—
George Avalos,
Mercury News,
5 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Instead, here's how to make your house smell good with these tricks to tackle smelly odors in your home and promote pleasant scents.—
Hallie Milstein,
Southern Living,
10 Feb. 2026
-
When later asked about the keys to forcing timing turnovers, Harmon said there are techniques and tricks of the trade that the Longhorns practice.—
Danny Davis,
Austin American Statesman,
10 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Last year, Malaysia signed a 10-year licensing deal with Arm Holdings, the British semiconductor firm, granting access to chip design blueprints and setting up the company’s first Southeast Asian office in Kuala Lumpur.—
Nicholas Gordon,
Fortune,
8 Feb. 2026
-
Initial plans for the development called for more than 600 units in 2024, but developers dramatically scaled back plans when submitting the blueprints in 2025.—
Alysa Guffey,
IndyStar,
5 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Schemes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/schemes. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
