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
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2
as in plots
a secret plan for accomplishing evil or unlawful ends
a scheme to kidnap the president's daughter
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3
as in plans
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 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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of schemes
Alec Luhn, Scientific American, 11 Sep. 2025
But his greedy schemes and her desire to keep her dog immortal led to the downfall of her once-thriving business and turned her into a woman on the run.
—Emily Blackwood, PEOPLE, 11 Sep. 2025
That trust between play caller and playmaker could come in handy Sunday, with Denver DC Vance Joseph, known for his aggressive schemes, likely ratcheting up the pressure on Jones and forcing quicker decisions that could make Jones rely more on Warren to beat it.
—James Boyd, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2025
This shift in transaction type introduces additional regulatory and technical complexity, especially under the rules of Visa, Mastercard and other payment schemes.
—Andrew Riabchuk, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
North was part of the twin schemes to sell weapons to Iran and then use proceeds to fund anti-communist rebels, known as the Contras, in Nicaragua.
—Cnn.com Wire Service, Mercury News, 10 Sep. 2025
If adding new focal point plants and a mix of fall-flowering annuals doesn’t fit your vision for the season, take your fall refresh in another direction and simplify your container schemes.
—Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Sep. 2025
To make money, Maria schemes to sell spots in her living room to the locals, young and old sports fans, to watch the football games on her television.
—Pete Hammond, Deadline, 9 Sep. 2025
The operation involved multiple money laundering schemes, often involving cryptocurrencies.
—Washington Examiner Staff, The Washington Examiner, 4 Sep. 2025
Eric Torres, Pitchfork, 27 Aug. 2025
Noun
The lack of action or will to curb this has led some researchers to seriously propose planetary-scale geoengineering schemes.
—Alec Luhn, Scientific American, 11 Sep. 2025
But his greedy schemes and her desire to keep her dog immortal led to the downfall of her once-thriving business and turned her into a woman on the run.
—Emily Blackwood, PEOPLE, 11 Sep. 2025
That trust between play caller and playmaker could come in handy Sunday, with Denver DC Vance Joseph, known for his aggressive schemes, likely ratcheting up the pressure on Jones and forcing quicker decisions that could make Jones rely more on Warren to beat it.
—James Boyd, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2025
This shift in transaction type introduces additional regulatory and technical complexity, especially under the rules of Visa, Mastercard and other payment schemes.
—Andrew Riabchuk, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
North was part of the twin schemes to sell weapons to Iran and then use proceeds to fund anti-communist rebels, known as the Contras, in Nicaragua.
—Cnn.com Wire Service, Mercury News, 10 Sep. 2025
If adding new focal point plants and a mix of fall-flowering annuals doesn’t fit your vision for the season, take your fall refresh in another direction and simplify your container schemes.
—Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Sep. 2025
To make money, Maria schemes to sell spots in her living room to the locals, young and old sports fans, to watch the football games on her television.
—Pete Hammond, Deadline, 9 Sep. 2025
The operation involved multiple money laundering schemes, often involving cryptocurrencies.
—Washington Examiner Staff, The Washington Examiner, 4 Sep. 2025
Verb
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
-
Episode 4 finds both Ellen and Julia throwing themselves headlong into plans that require them to keep up major ruses.—
Kimberly Roots,
TVLine,
22 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Its plots were familiar yet engaging, and its characters were the kind viewers wanted to spend time with week after week.—
Marc Berman,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
-
Visitors span inner-city apartment dwellers who grow herbs on fire escapes and rural families planning orchard plots.—
Jason Phillips,
USA Today,
10 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Efforts to reprice 2026 plans are underway to account for this new, tougher landscape.—
Ashley Lutz,
Fortune,
12 Sep. 2025
-
Staff and wire reports LONDON – Britain's Prince Harry visited Ukraine on Friday, arriving in Kyiv with a team from his Invictus Games Foundation to detail his charity's plans to help rehabilitate wounded soldiers, the Guardian and ABC News reported.—
USA Today,
USA Today,
12 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
New downloads of Weather are no longer possible on Wear OS 6 devices from third-party manufacturers, such as Samsung, OnePlus and others.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
12 Sep. 2025
-
Why Healthcare Needs a Data Overhaul Healthcare systems are generating more data than ever before, from electronic health records and lab results to imaging scans, insurance claims, and even patient updates from wearable devices.—
Matthew Kayser,
USA Today,
12 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Conspiracy theories on Butler shooting persist In more than a year since the shooting and preliminary investigation took place, the FBI has released little additional information about Crooks, opening another avenue for conspiracies to run amok, the New York Times reported.—
Kinsey Crowley,
USA Today,
11 Sep. 2025
-
The narrowing of communication channels is perhaps the most devastating impact conspiracies can have on a relationship.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
8 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
If regulators expand sanctions regimes to cover newer sectors like AI and blockchain, firms need strategies to pivot, adapt, and retool compliance processes.—
Ilona Limonta-Volkova,
Forbes.com,
14 Sep. 2025
-
These assistants translate complex sensor data and algorithmic strategies into plain-language recommendations, sharply reducing cognitive load during high-pressure missions, according to the researchers.—
Bojan Stojkovski,
Interesting Engineering,
14 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Dillon took a beat to think about what works for him before sharing his tips and tricks to remaining youthful.—
Angel Saunders,
PEOPLE,
12 Sep. 2025
-
Weaver shares his go-to honey tips, tricks and cocktail recipes.—
Brittany Anas,
Denver Post,
10 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
In Greenberg’s novel, Cherry and Hero are already secret lovers who conspire to thwart the menfolk’s machinations.—
Leslie Felperin,
HollywoodReporter,
5 Sep. 2025
-
The machinations violated the NBA’s salary cap rules.—
Jason Clinkscales,
Sportico.com,
3 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Schemes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/schemes. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.
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