machination

noun

mach·​i·​na·​tion ˌma-kə-ˈnā-shən How to pronounce machination (audio)
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 industryPeter Bogdanovich
Choose the Right Synonym for machination

plot, intrigue, machination, conspiracy, cabal mean a plan secretly devised to accomplish an evil or treacherous end.

plot implies careful foresight in planning a complex scheme.

an assassination plot

intrigue suggests secret underhanded maneuvering in an atmosphere of duplicity.

backstairs intrigue

machination implies a contriving of annoyances, injuries, or evils by indirect means.

the machinations of a party boss

conspiracy implies a secret agreement among several people usually involving treason or great treachery.

a conspiracy to fix prices

cabal typically applies to political intrigue involving persons of some eminence.

a cabal among powerful senators

Examples of machination in a Sentence

incredibly complicated machinations to assassinate the president that inevitably failed
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
All these stories helped form the bedrock of my imagination and a sense of what truly matters in life: Friendship, loyalty, courage in the face of daunting odds, and the capacity for normal people, even children and Hobbits, to overcome the machinations of the wicked. Erik Kain, Forbes, 25 Mar. 2025 Gather ’round, children, Grandpa Probst is going to tell you about the time his machinations broke the game. Brian Moylan, Vulture, 12 Mar. 2025 But in seeing all the machinations — being able to put together, finally, what the number is on the cigarette? Kimberly Roots, TVLine, 4 Mar. 2025 The removal power is premised upon the review of a mayor’s ethics, not his political machinations. Christian Browne, New York Daily News, 23 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for machination

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of machination was in the 15th century

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Cite this Entry

“Machination.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/machination. Accessed 15 Apr. 2025.

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