1
as in Mafias
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 complicities
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 schemes
a secret plan for accomplishing evil or unlawful ends
several generals were engaged in a conspiracy to overthrow the government
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of conspiracies
Rudy, along with his boss, Bruiser, and her disheveled paralegal, Deck, uncover two connected conspiracies surrounding the mysterious death of their client’s son.
—
Denise Petski, Deadline, 23 Oct. 2025
As other seemingly unconnected incidents start to happen around her (one friend goes missing, another is attacked), conspiracies are everywhere and Chloe must try to separate truth from fiction while fearing for her life.
—Kate Belli, PEOPLE, 18 Oct. 2025
These participants, who, like those in our COVID-19 study, prioritized a symbolic show of strength, were more likely to believe in other kinds of misinformation and conspiracies, too, such as that the government is concealing evidence of alien contact.
—Abraham Rutchick, The Conversation, 15 Oct. 2025
Yet the hyperactive news cycle demands everyone create some kind of schema for figuring out what’s going on, and our era is typified with crackpot right-wing conspiracies that fill that void.
—Literary Hub, 7 Oct. 2025
Following a six-week trial last fall, CTJ and Si Oh Rhew were found guilty of two conspiracies and multiple counts of failure to file reports of currency transactions.
—Rosemary Feitelberg, Footwear News, 1 Oct. 2025
Federal prosecutors charged Cannon-Grant with three distinct conspiracies.
—Rick Sobey, Boston Herald, 22 Sep. 2025
American politics has long been home to conspiracies and even fracturings of understanding around events, said Nicole Hemmer, a professor of history at Vanderbilt University.
—Geoff Brumfiel, NPR, 20 Sep. 2025
Orbán’s conspiracies around Soros are gaining traction in the US.
—Christian Edwards, CNN Money, 19 Sep. 2025
Denise Petski, Deadline, 23 Oct. 2025
As other seemingly unconnected incidents start to happen around her (one friend goes missing, another is attacked), conspiracies are everywhere and Chloe must try to separate truth from fiction while fearing for her life.
—Kate Belli, PEOPLE, 18 Oct. 2025
These participants, who, like those in our COVID-19 study, prioritized a symbolic show of strength, were more likely to believe in other kinds of misinformation and conspiracies, too, such as that the government is concealing evidence of alien contact.
—Abraham Rutchick, The Conversation, 15 Oct. 2025
Yet the hyperactive news cycle demands everyone create some kind of schema for figuring out what’s going on, and our era is typified with crackpot right-wing conspiracies that fill that void.
—Literary Hub, 7 Oct. 2025
Following a six-week trial last fall, CTJ and Si Oh Rhew were found guilty of two conspiracies and multiple counts of failure to file reports of currency transactions.
—Rosemary Feitelberg, Footwear News, 1 Oct. 2025
Federal prosecutors charged Cannon-Grant with three distinct conspiracies.
—Rick Sobey, Boston Herald, 22 Sep. 2025
American politics has long been home to conspiracies and even fracturings of understanding around events, said Nicole Hemmer, a professor of history at Vanderbilt University.
—Geoff Brumfiel, NPR, 20 Sep. 2025
Orbán’s conspiracies around Soros are gaining traction in the US.
—Christian Edwards, CNN Money, 19 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for conspiracies
Noun
-
Through these schemes, people invest a significant amount of money into a country – with some countries like Greece having a minimum of €250,000 (about $290,357) – and are allowed to work and live there.—
Kathleen Wong,
USA Today,
23 Oct. 2025
-
Former player and assistant coach Damon Jones was arrested in relation to both schemes.—
Rick Porter,
HollywoodReporter,
23 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Some cultural differences slipped through their eyes, and New York gangs sometimes spoke like poets.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
22 Oct. 2025
-
Despite Luna establishing the Office of Constitutional Policing to root out deputy gangs, the county inspector general argued earlier this year that LASD had made no systemic effort to identify gang members within its ranks or investigate group misconduct.—
Jesse Hyde,
Rolling Stone,
21 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The character names in many western fantasy books today would sound right at home in a Welsh classroom, and numerous plots draw on our myths and history.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
22 Oct. 2025
-
That emotional flow is especially evident in The World’s First Tooth Fairy…Ever series that blends lighthearted plots with consistent emotional depth.—
William Jones,
USA Today,
22 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Even if the networks elect to tap the brakes on gambling ads in the near term, coverage of the NBA will remain a bit of a contextual minefield as long as Rozier and Billups remain in the headlines.—
Anthony Crupi,
Sportico.com,
24 Oct. 2025
-
Varese notes that these families used to have a strong hand in the drug business, but were forced out by bigger supplier networks, significantly limiting their power and reach, which explains their involvement in smaller enterprises like gambling rings.—
Time,
Time,
24 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
His firepower for short stints on the mound intrigues the Rockies.—
Patrick Saunders,
Denver Post,
29 Sep. 2025
-
While plundering a dungeon lair and stealing artifacts from a museum both have heist elements to them, Skullduggery looks into the other intrigues of adventures in urban environments.—
Rob Wieland,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The announcement on Friday evening draws a line once and for all, without having to go through the messy machinations of a parliamentary intervention, which would have been required to remove the dukedom.—
Sophie Tanno,
CNN Money,
18 Oct. 2025
-
Beyond his extensive acting credits, Nighy has become quietly famous for his no-nonsense opinions on the machinations of life and regular sightings in and around London cafés.—
Olivia Allen,
Vogue,
11 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime says Indonesia is a major drug smuggling hub despite having some of the strictest drug laws in the world, in part because international drug syndicates target its young population.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
22 Oct. 2025
-
In the 2000s and 2010s, small funds and angel syndicates thrived.—
Roman Axelrod,
Fortune,
8 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The twilight of empire was also a time of conspiracy theories about international Jewish cabals, said to manipulate power through money and shadowy networks in order to rule the world.—
Ian Buruma,
New Yorker,
22 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Conspiracies.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/conspiracies. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.
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