as in cunning
clever at attaining one's ends by indirect and often deceptive means the novel is about an elderly man and his scheming son who is impatient to inherit the family fortune
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in plotting
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
as in conniving
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
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 scheming
Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 7 Feb. 2025 Many viewed him as being manipulated by his scheming mother, dowager Queen Frederica. —Demetris Nellas, BostonGlobe.com, 10 Jan. 2023
Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 26 Feb. 2026 Alliances will be formed, scheming will begin, intense challenges will take place and contestants will be voted out. —Christopher Kuhagen, jsonline.com, 25 Feb. 2026
Julia Coin, Charlotte Observer, 1 Apr. 2026 Mabel quickly realizes that the glade’s inhabitants have not left of their own accord but have been pushed out by the scheming mayor, Jerry (Jon Hamm). —David Sims, The Atlantic, 26 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for scheming
Adjective
The doors that slam, as farcical doors are built to do, open to work spaces, where a good deal of time is spent scheming and counter-scheming. —Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 7 Feb. 2025 Many viewed him as being manipulated by his scheming mother, dowager Queen Frederica. —Demetris Nellas, BostonGlobe.com, 10 Jan. 2023
Noun
Getting there required some Regency-era scheming. —Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 26 Feb. 2026 Alliances will be formed, scheming will begin, intense challenges will take place and contestants will be voted out. —Christopher Kuhagen, jsonline.com, 25 Feb. 2026
Verb
Former City Councilwoman Tiawana Brown’s daughter admitted to scheming with her family to use fake documents and steal pandemic relief money from the federal government. —Julia Coin, Charlotte Observer, 1 Apr. 2026 Mabel quickly realizes that the glade’s inhabitants have not left of their own accord but have been pushed out by the scheming mayor, Jerry (Jon Hamm). —David Sims, The Atlantic, 26 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for scheming
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scheming
Adjective
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Past friends and former associates described him to me as an exceptionally cunning con man, a consummate charmer, and a womanizer.— Nate Freeman, Vanity Fair, 3 Apr. 2026
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Starring Charlize Theron, Taron Egerton, and Eric Bana, the film was shot on location in the Australian wilderness and features Theron as a grieving woman on a solo adventure who becomes the target of a cunning killer (Egerton) in a twisted game of cat-and-mouse.— Abid Rahman, HollywoodReporter, 1 Apr. 2026
Noun
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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
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But her character succumbs to Ducournau’s convoluted plotting.— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 26 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Fly across the world to visit archives and then look at additional pamphlets just because the covers look cute.— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 10 Apr. 2026
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For adventurous travelers who want to look cute in photos but also have a hike, tennis match, or other adventure on the agenda, this pleated skirt is an ideal pick.— Paris Wilson, Travel + Leisure, 10 Apr. 2026
Noun
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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
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In a separate incident last week, an F-35 stealth fighter made an emergency landing.— Chris Looft, ABC News, 27 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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However, on appliances that aren’t washed just by the process of using them, this DIY duo may leave a slick film and odd, lingering smells.— Hallie Milstein, Southern Living, 19 Apr. 2026
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The inclement weather was a factor early with slick footballs impacting the passing game, but the group’s spirits remained high.— Jack Murray, Boston Herald, 19 Apr. 2026
Noun
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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
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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
Cite this Entry
“Scheming.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.grautoblog.com/thesaurus/scheming. Accessed 23 Apr. 2026.
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