machination
noun
mach·i·na·tion
ˌma-kə-ˈnā-shən 
ˌma-shə-
1
: an act of machinating
2
: a scheming or crafty action or artful design intended to accomplish some usually evil end
backstage machinations … that have dominated the film industry—
Peter Bogdanovich
Peter BogdanovichExamples of machination in a Sentence
incredibly complicated machinations to assassinate the president that inevitably failed
Recent Examples on the Web
The staff went through machinations to minimize the appearance of Biden’s physical challenges, even enlisting director Steven Spielberg to coach Biden for his 2024 State of the Union address.
—Stephen Battaglio, Los Angeles Times, 20 May 2025
But a full, public airing threatened to reveal the C.I.A.’s machinations and the F.B.I.’s incompetence.
—Daniel Immerwahr, New Yorker, 19 May 2025
But its success will depend entirely on follow-through — and worryingly, on the moods and machinations of the two men who lead these countries.
—Dewardric L. McNeal, CNBC, 13 May 2025
She's hauled into congressional hearings by her critics – including Bucky Barnes (Stan), former Winter Soldier and current congressman from Brooklyn – for human experimentation and other morally dubious machinations.
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 30 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for machination
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Stephen Battaglio, Los Angeles Times, 20 May 2025
But a full, public airing threatened to reveal the C.I.A.’s machinations and the F.B.I.’s incompetence.
—Daniel Immerwahr, New Yorker, 19 May 2025
But its success will depend entirely on follow-through — and worryingly, on the moods and machinations of the two men who lead these countries.
—Dewardric L. McNeal, CNBC, 13 May 2025
She's hauled into congressional hearings by her critics – including Bucky Barnes (Stan), former Winter Soldier and current congressman from Brooklyn – for human experimentation and other morally dubious machinations.
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 30 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for machination
Cite this Entry
“Machination.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/machination. Accessed 2 Jun. 2025.
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