machinate

verb

ˈma-kə-ˌnāt How to pronounce machinate (audio)
Definition of machinatenext
1
as in to plot
to engage in a secret plan to accomplish evil or unlawful ends a trio of courtiers who were discovered to be machinating against the queen

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in to negotiate
to plan out usually with subtle skill or care the hackers machinated a way to steal credit numbers from the company's Web site

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 machinate But Cleopatra, still machinating away in Alexandria, couldn’t handle the thought of Herod gaining any further traction in Antony’s affections. — Anne Thériault, Longreads, 18 Dec. 2019 Now a new scheme described by ProPublica and The Wall Street Journal involves families seemingly machinating to get an unfair leg up in paying for a coveted seat at a university. — Adam Harris, The Atlantic, 30 July 2019
Recent Examples of Synonyms for machinate
  1. plot
  2. negotiate
  3. scheme
  4. manipulate
  5. arrange
  6. engineer
  7. contrive
Verb
  • That's what prosecutors said in opening statements motivated a rap star to plot and carry out the murder of a rival rap artist.
    — Matthew Ablon, CBS News, 27 Oct. 2026
  • Bolsonaro also called for amnesty for his father, Jair Bolsonaro, who is serving a 27-year prison sentence under house arrest after being found guilty of plotting a coup to overturn his defeat in the 2022 election.
    — Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of plot
Verb
  • On the one hand, the relief came through energy, when Washington granted a series of short-term waivers that kept the NIS refinery running while Hungary’s MOL negotiated to buy out the Russian stake.
    — Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 27 Oct. 2026
  • With an unfriendly Congress, decisions about who pays and where cuts are made will also test Lula’s ability to negotiate.
    — Alessandra Freitas, CNN Money, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of negotiate
Verb
  • Who doesn’t love a good scheming royal for collecting Halloween treats?
    — Melissa Locker, Southern Living, 15 Oct. 2026
  • That point is proved time and again, as editors scheme against each other, belittle each other’s literary taste and throw Batter under the bus whenever an opportunity arises.
    — Leigh Haber, Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of scheme
Verb
  • Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Tuesday the Pentagon has not manipulated the service.
    — Jennifer Jacobs, CBS News, 21 Oct. 2026
  • Without that provenance, the agent can’t reliably distinguish current operational truth from stale, incomplete or manipulated information.
    — Shekhar Iyer, Forbes.com, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of manipulate
Verb
  • The hotel can also arrange more typical Lanai tourist activities—scuba diving, sailing, horseback riding, or a day at the beach at the sister Four Seasons resort.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Lawyers in Russia eventually located him and arranged for legal visits, money for food and basic necessities, and the brief phone call with his son.
    — Olivia Gazis, CBS News, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of arrange
Verb
  • Each crane also required 10 custom connections to the building, engineered to meet local seismic requirements.
    — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 24 Oct. 2026
  • When growth pressures persist, corporate boards frequently turn to executive leadership changes to engineer a turnaround, as demonstrated by this week's executive shakeup at Swiss chocolate maker Lindt.
    — , CNBC, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of engineer
Verb
  • Transport Workers Union President John Samuelsen said Menin is using the death of a tourist to contrive a public safety crisis.
    — Jessica Moore, CBS News, 14 Oct. 2026
  • That is what makes conversations like this sound dishonest and contrived.
    — Bobby Burack OutKick, FOXNews.com, 22 Sep. 2026
Definition of contrive

Browse Nearby Words

Machiavellian
machinate
machinated
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Cite this Entry

“Machinate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/machinate. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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