1
as in ruse
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 conspiracy
a secret plan for accomplishing evil or unlawful ends
a scheme to kidnap the president's daughter
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3
as in plan
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 to plot
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 scheme
Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 11 Mar. 2025
Now, head coach Kevin O'Connell had the initial view of the Jones signing as a veteran who could lead a running-back-by-committee scheme in his backfield.
—Scott Thompson, Fox News, 10 Mar. 2025
Nate Taylor, The Athletic, 19 Feb. 2025
Throughout the 26-day game, players will build shelter, survive with meager food and hunt their own, compete in exhausting challenges and be forced to scheme and backstab to vote out other players.
—Emily Deletter, USA TODAY, 28 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for scheme
Noun
The two friends start their day sitting around a piano and brainstorming an idea for a scheme to play the Rivoli.
—Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 11 Mar. 2025
Now, head coach Kevin O'Connell had the initial view of the Jones signing as a veteran who could lead a running-back-by-committee scheme in his backfield.
—Scott Thompson, Fox News, 10 Mar. 2025
Verb
Throughout last season, the Chiefs were able to design and scheme positive moments for veterans DeAndre Hopkins, JuJu Smith-Schuster, Justin Watson and Mecole Hardman.
—Nate Taylor, The Athletic, 19 Feb. 2025
Throughout the 26-day game, players will build shelter, survive with meager food and hunt their own, compete in exhausting challenges and be forced to scheme and backstab to vote out other players.
—Emily Deletter, USA TODAY, 28 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for scheme
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scheme
Noun
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Shane Millan admitted to forcing several women to expose their chest with the ruse of checking for tattoos A U.S. Border Patrol agent has admitted to forcing several migrant women to expose their breasts while processing their paperwork during their entry into the country in 2023.—
Samira Asma-Sadeque,
People.com,
11 Mar. 2025
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The idea of doctors posing as podcasters to make men more suggestible is already a winner, but the language the doctors employ to complete the ruse ratchets up the comedy.—
Joe Berkowitz,
Vulture,
26 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Victoria, 32, has been charged with solicitation to commit murder and conspiracy to commit murder.—
Karu F. Daniels,
New York Daily News,
14 Mar. 2025
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Victoria, 32, was arrested March 6 on charges of solicitation to commit murder and conspiracy to commit murder, according to Clark County inmate records.—
Ryan Coleman,
EW.com,
14 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Here are tips on how to stay safe during a thunderstorm: To lower the risk of lightning strikes, when going outdoors, develop a plan to reach a safer spot.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacramento Bee,
13 Mar. 2025
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Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield joined a coalition of 20 other Democratic attorneys general on Thursday to sue the Trump administration over its plan to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education.—
Meira Gebel,
Axios,
13 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Read More Trump supporter accused of plotting to assassinate Trump at CA rally.—
Real-Time News team,
Miami Herald,
14 Mar. 2025
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With space behind the defence strangled and the centre of the pitch condensed, plotting a course requires precise combination play.—
Jordan Campbell,
The Athletic,
14 Mar. 2025
Noun
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These range from counseling to lifestyle changes to medications to devices to surgery.—
Bruce Y. Lee,
Forbes,
17 Mar. 2025
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All of its stands disappear behind the device that they’re meant to support and don’t drown your workplace in visual clutter.—
Boutayna Chokrane,
WIRED,
16 Mar. 2025
Noun
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In many ways, the account-for-it-later strategy is a bet on the still booming NFL.—
Jacob Feldman,
Sportico.com,
15 Mar. 2025
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Leadership strategies that involve coercion, and emphasize punishment, don’t feel very modern.—
Chris Westfall,
Forbes,
15 Mar. 2025
Noun
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This chip also drives many of the phone's artificial intelligence features, and allows the Pixel 9a to take advantage of all the same AI camera tricks introduced on the Pixel 9 smartphones in 2024.—
Julian Chokkattu,
WIRED,
19 Mar. 2025
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This cat's trick shouldn't be too much of a surprise as many videos of felines opening doors have flooded social media in recent years.—
Dan Perry,
Newsweek,
18 Mar. 2025
Noun
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In the United States, many firms have learned lessons from hurricanes, data breaches or product recalls, turning those experiences into a blueprint for improvement.—
Benjamin Laker,
Forbes,
21 Mar. 2025
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Indonesia’s first-ever Minister of Culture, Fadli Zon, has outlined an ambitious blueprint for the nation’s cultural growth, with special emphasis on developing the country’s rapidly expanding film industry.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
21 Mar. 2025
Articles Related to scheme
Cite this Entry
“Scheme.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scheme. Accessed 24 Mar. 2025.
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