machination

noun

mach·​i·​na·​tion ˌma-kə-ˈnā-shən 

ˌma-shə-

1

: an act of machinating

2

: a scheming or crafty action or artful design intended to accomplish some usually evil end

backstage machinations … that have dominated the film industry

—Peter Bogdanovich

Synonyms

• conspiracy
• design
• intrigue
• plot
• scheme

Choose the Right Synonym for machination

plot, intrigue, machination, conspiracy, cabal mean a plan secretly devised to accomplish an evil or treacherous end.

plot implies careful foresight in planning a complex scheme.

an assassination plot

intrigue suggests secret underhanded maneuvering in an atmosphere of duplicity.

backstairs intrigue

machination implies a contriving of annoyances, injuries, or evils by indirect means.

the machinations of a party boss

conspiracy implies a secret agreement among several people usually involving treason or great treachery.

a conspiracy to fix prices

cabal typically applies to political intrigue involving persons of some eminence.

a cabal among powerful senators

Examples of machination in a Sentence

incredibly complicated machinations to assassinate the president that inevitably failed

Recent Examples on the Web

Kate Beckinsale detailed her experiences of systemic Hollywood sexism in a lengthy Instagram video, highlighting the machinations in place to silence women who dare to speak up about on-set assault or harassment. —Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 30 Dec. 2024

But her routine is disrupted when an eight-year-old American boy arrives at the hotel and becomes wise to her machinations. —The New Yorker, 23 Dec. 2024

And now there's a trailer to sate your thirst for Alan Cumming's sartorial flare or the machinations of reality stars and the occasional British Lord. —Lester Fabian Brathwaite, EW.com, 18 Dec. 2024

As absurd as its soapy machinations could become, Dead to Me turned out to be a genuinely moving tale of two platonic soulmates’ unconditional love for one another. —Judy Berman, TIME, 12 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1