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

During the chaotic months between the 2020 election and Biden’s inauguration in January 2021, Byrne was extremely involved in the various machinations from the Oval Office to try and undo the election. —Paolo Confino, Fortune, 24 Oct. 2024

But once the conclave starts, so do the machinations, power grabs — and revelations that could rattle the Catholic Church. —Chris Foran, Journal Sentinel, 23 Oct. 2024

The center’s job is to mitigate the effects of such machinations, and one of its main tools is forewarning voters through public bulletins. —David D. Kirkpatrick, The New Yorker, 21 Oct. 2024

Eric—separated from his wife and in the throes of a midlife crisis—wins a promotion and gets caught up in toxic C-suite machinations. —Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 9 Aug. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1