plotting 1 of 3

Definition of plottingnext

plotting

2 of 3

noun

plotting

3 of 3

verb

present participle of 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 plotting
Noun
But despite Badio’s behind-the-scenes plotting, John insisted that the former official was not the one in charge of the operation. Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 10 Apr. 2026 But her character succumbs to Ducournau’s convoluted plotting. Los Angeles Times, 26 Mar. 2026 In its plotting and structure, this often feels less like a series than a two-hour movie that’s been stretched to fill eight 45-minute episodes on the rationale that the latter would be easier to greenlight than the former. Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 26 Mar. 2026 Championed by Roger Ebert but ultimately a box-office flop, Stay’s plotting is far too tedious and the characters played by Ewan McGregor and Naomi Watts too vague for any of it to gel. Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 20 Mar. 2026 Between Duke, Kaulo, and Beckett’s plotting, there are enough moving parts to drive the story toward a climactic, incendiary end. Miriam Balanescu, IndieWire, 5 Mar. 2026 While Revere was central to the ride and its plotting, Kennedy will highlight myriad other men and women who proved crucial to the events that helped set in motion what would lead to America’s independence. Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 18 Feb. 2026 There’s a tension, too, between the observant realism of Layton’s style and the derivativeness of the plotting, though the three leads, all superb, smooth it over with considerable skill. Justin Chang, New Yorker, 13 Feb. 2026 Not a single critic of the book was struck by the incongruity of this failure in basic thriller plotting. Literary Hub, 5 Feb. 2026
Verb
The process is designed to keep a president at the helm, so the president doesn’t have to worry about his own appointees plotting against him, Kalt explained. Daniel C. Vock, Chicago Tribune, 20 Apr. 2026 Orbán also leaves behind a fiscal mess, which the analyst Dalibor Rohac suggests Orbán might be happy to abandon while plotting his comeback. Anne Applebaum, The Atlantic, 13 Apr. 2026 Writing the book was a delight, from research to character development to plotting to drafting. Lee Kelly, PEOPLE, 12 Apr. 2026 So in Hacks’s last season, the duo are plotting Deborah’s return to comedy by trying to get her a gig at Madison Square Garden for when her contract is up. Savannah Salazar, Vulture, 10 Apr. 2026 Boris is the more vocal and brazen of the two, while Arkady is thoughtful and plotting. Literary Hub, 10 Apr. 2026 Swig, the ultra-popular dirty soda shop, is plotting another location in Charlotte. Tanasia Kenney, Charlotte Observer, 10 Apr. 2026 Such strong characterizations and go-for-broke performances, especially among the women, make up for some decidedly contrived plotting. Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 9 Apr. 2026 Former President Jair Bolsonaro was jailed for 27 years for plotting a coup; his eldest son and heir apparent was thrown out of Congress and is living in the US. Tom Chivers, semafor.com, 7 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for plotting
Adjective
  • Even Alex becomes too entangled in her students’ dealings and ends up suffering at the hands of one of the more calculating boys.
    Rebekah Frumkin, Washington Post, 6 Sep. 2019
  • And experts believe that his intuitive style could throw the more calculating Caruana, who has faced time crunches already in this championship, off-balance.
    Joshua Robinson, WSJ, 27 Nov. 2018
Noun
  • When Ashley handed the fake certificate to Josh, his mind was on his own scheming.
    Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 16 Apr. 2026
  • Inspector General Deborah Witzburg's job is to sniff out wrongdoing by city workers, and her office's first quarterly report of 2026 revealed a stunning number of findings that involve scamming, scheming, and illegally profiting from work as a city employee.
    Chris Tye, CBS News, 15 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • The district recently approved new course materials for some high school math courses, and is planning for a middle school Spanish language arts pilot and new advanced high school welding class to start next school year.
    Molly Morrow, Chicago Tribune, 21 Apr. 2026
  • JPMorgan Chase is planning to consolidate workspace for existing Charlotte workers and account for more hiring by moving into a SouthPark office that has room for over 1,000 workers, further expanding its push into the hometown territory of rival banks.
    Chase Jordan April 21, Charlotte Observer, 21 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • Other such discrimination is more covert.
    Alison Somin, Oc Register, 10 Apr. 2026
  • The hypoallergenic, 100-percent cotton fabric provides a breathable option for covert breastfeeding.
    Pamela Brill, Parents, 7 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Boasting a combination of nuclear endurance, stealth, speed, and advanced sensors, the USS New Jersey delivers a versatile undersea combat capability.
    Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 4 Apr. 2026
  • In a separate incident last week, an F-35 stealth fighter made an emergency landing.
    Chris Looft, ABC News, 27 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • Over the following 12 days, investigators determined that Lulinski had used his cell phone on multiple occasions to take inappropriate and surreptitious photos or videos of minors during normal school activities.
    CBS Atlanta Digital Team, CBS News, 16 Apr. 2026
  • Remember, this is Augusta National, where the surreptitious use of a cellphone is grounds for immediate banishment.
    Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 10 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Here’s why there’s so much secrecy around the publishing industry, and how fiction authors are faring.
    Josh Rivera, USA Today, 19 Apr. 2026
  • The wonderwall of secrecy has come down and the voters’ wishes for who will make it into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame this year have become known.
    Chris Willman, Variety, 14 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • Darrell Lee Vannostran, 40, was booked after he was arrested for the use of photo or video equipment in a clandestine manner in a private place.
    Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, FOXNews.com, 22 Apr. 2026
  • In January, authorities announced more than 1,500 pounds of meth were seized from clandestine laboratories in the states of Durango, Sinaloa and Michoacán.
    CBS News, CBS News, 21 Apr. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Plotting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.grautoblog.com/thesaurus/plotting. Accessed 24 Apr. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on plotting

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster