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
Greta Cross, USA Today, 4 Apr. 2025
For investors who can’t resist the allure of a beat-the-market scheme, our table offers, reluctantly, factor funds in a few different flavors.
—William Baldwin, Forbes.com, 4 Apr. 2025
Daniel D'addario, Variety, 24 Mar. 2025
Othello sees Denzel star as the titular character, joined by Gyllenhaal as the scheming Iago and Molly Osborne as Othello's wife Desdemona.
—Rachel Raposas, People.com, 16 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for scheme
Noun
In 2018, Billy McFarland was sentenced to six years in prison for engaging in several fraudulent schemes related to the first Fyre Festival.
—Greta Cross, USA Today, 4 Apr. 2025
For investors who can’t resist the allure of a beat-the-market scheme, our table offers, reluctantly, factor funds in a few different flavors.
—William Baldwin, Forbes.com, 4 Apr. 2025
Verb
Washington, here, is the title character, a military general whose personnel choices have enraged Gyllenhaal’s scheming underling.
—Daniel D'addario, Variety, 24 Mar. 2025
Othello sees Denzel star as the titular character, joined by Gyllenhaal as the scheming Iago and Molly Osborne as Othello's wife Desdemona.
—Rachel Raposas, People.com, 16 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for scheme
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scheme
Noun
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This is, of course, a ruse to put Rick in the same room with Jim, who, according to his mother on her deathbed, killed his do-gooder dad.—
Judy Berman,
Time,
31 Mar. 2025
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Frank This character doing all the heavy lifting to keep Rick’s ruse afloat and Sam Rockwell doing all the heavy lifting to keep this plot interesting: Thank you for your service, gentlemen.—
Jessica M. Goldstein,
Vulture,
31 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Lori Vallow Daybell convicted of murder Vallow Daybell was charged in May 2021 with the murders of her children and conspiracy to commit the murder of Tammy Daybell.—
Miguel Torres,
USA Today,
7 Apr. 2025
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Nearly two years after her initial sentencing in Idaho, Lori is now preparing for her trial in Arizona after being charged with one count of conspiracy to commit first-degree murder in the 2019 death of her fourth husband, Charles Vallow.—
Brenton Blanchet,
People.com,
6 Apr. 2025
Noun
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However, this safe harbor provision would only be available if there were concrete plans to replace safety-critical and health-critical SIRS assets with remaining lives of less than three years, which would include roofs, plumbing, fire alarms and other safety equipment.—
Bruce Strom,
Sun Sentinel,
6 Apr. 2025
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The Education Department recently reopened those IDR plan applications, following a period during which the plans were unavailable.—
Annie Nova,
CNBC,
6 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Less than a month into the job, Trump and the Japanese Prime Minister plotted their response to a North Korean missile launch in the open-air patio of Mar a Lago, photos of which ended up on Facebook.—
Philip Elliott,
Time,
26 Mar. 2025
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During his trial at the Constitutional Court last month, Han denied plotting martial law with Yoon.—
Gawon Bae,
CNN,
24 Mar. 2025
Noun
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The device gives users the option to shape and create their own sonic signature.—
Mark Sparrow,
Forbes,
25 Mar. 2025
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Rivers used that particular flick as his framing device, which makes sense to anyone who has long wondered the same thing.—
Sam Amick,
The Athletic,
25 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Through countless films, TV series, Amblin events, awards campaigns and our public relations strategy—this is where Marvin came alive.—
Jack Dunn,
Variety,
9 Apr. 2025
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Being open to change and embracing new strategies can set the foundation for long-term success.—
Adam Fineberg,
Forbes.com,
8 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Special content, tips, and tricks: Free digital access to the vast recipe archives of Bon Appétit and Epicurious, plus an in-depth video filmed in the test kitchen of one recipe from each box.—
The Bon Appétit Staff & Contributors,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
10 Apr. 2025
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But back to the task at hand: One trick to schooling yourself while keeping things fun is taking a tour — or a few of them.—
Heidi Finley,
Charlotte Observer,
8 Apr. 2025
Noun
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The Brookings Institution, a centrist think tank, has presented its own bipartisan blueprint for making the system solvent.—
Dennis W. Jansen,
The Conversation,
14 Apr. 2025
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The April 9 Executive Order The April 9 Executive Order goes far beyond non-binding DOJ Task Force advocacy, by creating a blueprint for direct government action against anticompetitive rules.—
Alden Abbott,
Forbes.com,
12 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Scheme.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scheme. Accessed 19 Apr. 2025.
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