Thesaurus results for SCHEME

Q: How does the noun 'scheme' contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of scheme are design , plan , plot , and project . While all these words mean "a method devised for making or doing something or achieving an end," scheme stresses calculation of the end in view and may apply to a plan motivated by craftiness and self-interest. // a scheme to defraud the government

Q: When would 'design' be a good substitute for 'scheme'?

While the synonyms design and scheme are close in meaning, design often suggests a particular pattern and some degree of achieved order or harmony. // a design for a new dress

Q: When is it sensible to use 'plan' instead of 'scheme'?

In some situations, the words plan and scheme are roughly equivalent. However, plan always implies mental formulation and sometimes graphic representation. // plans for a house

Q: When is 'plot' a more appropriate choice than 'scheme'?

The synonyms plot and scheme are sometimes interchangeable, but plot implies a laying out in clearly distinguished sections with attention to their relations and proportions. // the plot of the play

Q: In what contexts can 'project' take the place of 'scheme'?

Although the words project and scheme have much in common, project often stresses imaginative scope and vision. // a project to develop the waterfront

scheme 1 of 2

noun

ˈskēm

Definition of scheme next

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

as in conspiracy

a secret plan for accomplishing evil or unlawful ends a scheme to kidnap the president's daughter

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in plan

a method worked out in advance for achieving some objective a scheme to upgrade the city's mass transit system

Synonyms & Similar Words

scheme

2 of 2

verb

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun scheme contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of scheme are design, plan, plot, and project. While all these words mean "a method devised for making or doing something or achieving an end," scheme stresses calculation of the end in view and may apply to a plan motivated by craftiness and self-interest.

a scheme to defraud the government

When would design be a good substitute for scheme?

While the synonyms design and scheme are close in meaning, design often suggests a particular pattern and some degree of achieved order or harmony.

a design for a new dress

When is it sensible to use plan instead of scheme?

In some situations, the words plan and scheme are roughly equivalent. However, plan always implies mental formulation and sometimes graphic representation.

plans for a house

When is plot a more appropriate choice than scheme?

The synonyms plot and scheme are sometimes interchangeable, but plot implies a laying out in clearly distinguished sections with attention to their relations and proportions.

the plot of the play

In what contexts can project take the place of scheme?

Although the words project and scheme have much in common, project often stresses imaginative scope and vision.

a project to develop the waterfront

Examples Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of scheme

Noun

True, the Packers lit up the Eagles defense in the season opener in Brazil but that was before Vic Fangio’s scheme took hold. —

Hank Gola, New York Daily News, 10 Jan. 2025 Officials conducted a two-year investigation into the scheme following a 2022 ProPublica story that showed how RealPage was helping landlords set rents across the country in a way that legal experts said could result in cartel-like behavior. —

Heather Vogell, ProPublica, 9 Jan. 2025

Verb

Blake Lively's complaint claims Justin Baldoni schemed with PR team Ahead of the film's release, Baldoni hired a PR team, along with producer Jamey Heath, to counter Lively's private allegations of harassment by engaging in a public spear campaign. —

Jay Stahl, USA TODAY, 22 Dec. 2024 The winner by plurality, which Putin illegally schemed to boost, hates the European Union and NATO and wants to reorient the country toward Russia—and away from liberal democracy. —

David Faris, Newsweek, 27 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for scheme

Recent Examples of Synonyms for scheme

Noun

Back-to-school reality:Campus shootings rose dramatically last year Sheriff: Suspect used a 'ruse' to gain entry to the school The shooting occurred shortly after 1 p.m. local time on Wednesday, according to Honea.

Thao Nguyen, USA TODAY, 6 Dec. 2024
They were given out-of-state weather reports to help play up the ruse in their small talk with customers.

Joel Jacobs, ProPublica, 23 Dec. 2024