Synonyms of machination

machination

noun

ˌma-kə-ˈnā-shən 

as in conspiracy

a secret plan for accomplishing evil or unlawful ends

incredibly complicated machinations to assassinate the president that inevitably failed

Synonyms & Similar Words

• conspiracy
• scheme
• plot
• intrigue
• strategy
• design
• subterfuge
• manipulation
• trickery
• stratagem
• maneuver
• cabal
• counterplot
• contrivance
• collusion
• racket
• confederacy
• frame-up
• system
• connivance
• complicity
• conniving
• dodge
• program
• counterconspiracy
• cover-up
• artifice
• draft
• ground plan
• gimmick
• trick
• conspiration
• ring
• game

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun machination differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of machination are cabal, conspiracy, intrigue, and plot. While all these words mean "a plan secretly devised to accomplish an evil or treacherous end," machination implies a contriving of annoyances, injuries, or evils by indirect means.

the machinations of a party boss

Where would cabal be a reasonable alternative to machination?

Although the words cabal and machination have much in common, cabal typically applies to political intrigue involving persons of some eminence.

a cabal among powerful senators

In what contexts can conspiracy take the place of machination?

While the synonyms conspiracy and machination are close in meaning, conspiracy implies a secret agreement among several people usually involving treason or great treachery.

a conspiracy to fix prices

When might intrigue be a better fit than machination?

While in some cases nearly identical to machination, intrigue suggests secret underhanded maneuvering in an atmosphere of duplicity.

backstairs intrigue

When is plot a more appropriate choice than machination?

The words plot and machination can be used in similar contexts, but plot implies careful foresight in planning a complex scheme.

an assassination plot

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of machination

But the rollicking thriller — which focuses on the machinations of Cardinals gathered in Rome to pick a new pope — is stirring up controversy with the group of people most likely to be interested in the inner workings of the church: Catholics, like Kelly. —Alex Abad-Santos, Vox, 12 Jan. 2025

The visual language of The Substance is rendered in the machinations of gleaming advertisements meant to trade upon the fears embedded in women by a culture that argues death is preferable to aging. —Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, 12 Feb. 2025

Her biggest swings are aimed at Spotify’s recommendation framework: the back-end machinations that silently power the playlists available to its 600 million users. —Brad Shoup, The Atlantic, 11 Feb. 2025

But to ensure its decline, Aoun and Salam will need to cut it off from funds over the next year and fight back against its political machinations. —Hanin Ghaddar, Foreign Affairs, 4 Feb. 2025