conspiracy

noun

kən-ˈspir-ə-sē How to pronounce conspiracy (audio)
Definition of conspiracynext
1
as in Mafia
a group involved in secret or criminal activities members of the conspiracy recognized each other by a secret handshake

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in complicity
a secret agreement or cooperation between two parties for an illegal or dishonest purpose a conspiracy among the leading manufacturers to fix prices

Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in scheme
a secret plan for accomplishing evil or unlawful ends several generals were engaged in a conspiracy to overthrow the government

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun conspiracy differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of conspiracy are cabal, intrigue, machination, and plot. While all these words mean "a plan secretly devised to accomplish an evil or treacherous end," conspiracy implies a secret agreement among several people usually involving treason or great treachery.

a conspiracy to fix prices

When would cabal be a good substitute for conspiracy?

The synonyms cabal and conspiracy are sometimes interchangeable, but cabal typically applies to political intrigue involving persons of some eminence.

a cabal among powerful senators

When might intrigue be a better fit than conspiracy?

While the synonyms intrigue and conspiracy are close in meaning, intrigue suggests secret underhanded maneuvering in an atmosphere of duplicity.

backstairs intrigue

In what contexts can machination take the place of conspiracy?

In some situations, the words machination and conspiracy are roughly equivalent. However, machination implies a contriving of annoyances, injuries, or evils by indirect means.

the machinations of a party boss

When is it sensible to use plot instead of conspiracy?

While in some cases nearly identical to conspiracy, plot implies careful foresight in planning a complex scheme.

an assassination plot

Example 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 conspiracy She was sentenced to six years and five months in prison for conspiracy to commit a crime, drug trafficking, manufacturing, or possession of narcotics. — Nathaly Triana, CNN, 11 Mar. 2025 Victoria Goodwin was arrested Thursday, according to online inmate records from Nevada’s Clark County, and arraigned on charges of solicitation of murder and conspiracy murder. — Christie D’zurilla, Los Angeles Times, 11 Mar. 2025 The conversation then veered into another favorite topic in conspiracy circles: the JFK assassination. — William Lambers, Newsweek, 9 Mar. 2025 Ramos pleaded guilty to conspiracy to encourage and induce, bring in, transport, and harbor aliens on Oct. 4, 2024. — Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 8 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for conspiracy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for conspiracy
  1. Mafia
  2. complicity
  3. scheme
  4. gang
  5. collusion
  6. plot
  7. syndicate
  8. connivance
Noun
  • Mariah the Scientist, Alex Warren, Latin Mafia, Flipturn, magdalena Bay, Gryffin, JPEGMAFIA, ISOxo, Artemas, GigiPerez, Del Water Gap, Katseye, Rebecca Black and more are also on the docket.
    — Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 18 Mar. 2025
  • De Leon will appear as a recurring guest star as ‘Chiqui,’ the prison boss of the Mexican Mafia who is described as imposing, threatening and domineering.
    — Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 18 Mar. 2025
Definition of Mafia
Noun
  • Bucky’s situation invited us to talk about the relationship between intention and complicity in our moral judgments.
    — James Calvin Davis, The Conversation, 5 Mar. 2025
  • Emily Watson plays the manipulative mother superior who slips Bill an envelope of cash to buy his complicity.
    — Amy Nicholson, Twin Cities, 1 Mar. 2025
Definition of complicity
Noun
  • The military declares martial law in the town as Daniels and his fellow scientists race to develop a cure, even as the nefarious McClintock schemes to bomb Cedar Creek to smithereens to contain the virus.
    — Ars Technica, Ars Technica, 14 Mar. 2025
  • The White Van is a kinetic heist thriller following a troubled young woman who is lured into a criminal scheme that leaves her wanted for bank robbery and hunted by a corrupt cop who doesn’t want justice – but wants the money for himself.
    — Anthony D'Alessandro, Deadline, 13 Mar. 2025
Definition of scheme
Noun
  • The pair had been charged with forming a criminal gang and human trafficking, and Andrew has been charged with rape.
    — Christian Edwards, CNN, 15 Mar. 2025
  • Jony and Line compete like gang members for affection and domination against bawdy Jane (Anamaria Vartolomei) and Rudy (Julien Manier), who wield laser swords and decapitate their enemies.
    — Armond White, National Review, 14 Mar. 2025
Definition of gang
Noun
  • Most notably, the revelation of collusion to fix commissions by Sotheby’s and Christie’s in the late 1990s, which undermined both companies.
    — Terry W. Hartle, The Christian Science Monitor, 5 Mar. 2025
  • Its technology enables gaming businesses to detect collusion, for example, and supports fintechs and other credit providers when lending to customers for the first time.
    — David Prosser, Forbes, 18 Dec. 2024
Definition of collusion
Noun
  • The fintech industry has seen its fair share of spectacular failures and bizarre plot twists in recent years.
    — Stephen Pastis, Forbes, 14 Mar. 2025
  • Trying to describe the film’s plot is an exercise in futility.
    — David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 14 Mar. 2025
Definition of plot
Noun
  • With time running out, Khalid reluctantly join forces with Ghali, the only person with intimate knowledge of the syndicate’s operations.
    — Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 17 Mar. 2025
  • When, a year later, the organization resurfaces and begins trafficking a new drug called Pink Lady across the Middle East, Khalid must reluctantly join forces with Ghali, the only person with intimate knowledge of the syndicate’s operations.
    — Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 17 Mar. 2025
Definition of syndicate
Noun
  • The arrests were part of wide-ranging Establishment attacks on the new generation of pop stars in Britain at the time, done through connivance with informers and a hostile conservative media.
    — Bill Wyman, Vulture, 30 Jan. 2025
  • Of course, this was done with the connivance of politicians.
    — Vera Bergengruen/Buenos Aires, TIME, 23 May 2024
Definition of connivance

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Cite this Entry

“Conspiracy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/conspiracy. Accessed 25 Mar. 2025.

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More from Merriam-Webster on conspiracy

Nglish: Translation of conspiracy for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about conspiracy

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