Thesaurus results for PLOT

Q: How does the noun 'plot' differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of plot are cabal , conspiracy , intrigue , and machination . While all these words mean "a plan secretly devised to accomplish an evil or treacherous end," plot implies careful foresight in planning a complex scheme. // an assassination plot

Q: When might 'cabal' be a better fit than 'plot'?

The synonyms cabal and plot are sometimes interchangeable, but cabal typically applies to political intrigue involving persons of some eminence. // a cabal among powerful senators

Q: In what contexts can 'conspiracy' take the place of 'plot'?

While in some cases nearly identical to plot , conspiracy implies a secret agreement among several people usually involving treason or great treachery. // a conspiracy to fix prices

Q: When is 'intrigue' a more appropriate choice than 'plot'?

The words intrigue and plot are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, intrigue suggests secret underhanded maneuvering in an atmosphere of duplicity. // backstairs intrigue

Q: When could 'machination' be used to replace 'plot'?

Although the words machination and plot have much in common, machination implies a contriving of annoyances, injuries, or evils by indirect means. // the machinations of a party boss

plot 1 of 2

noun

ˈplät

Definition of plot

as in scheme

a secret plan for accomplishing evil or unlawful ends the Secret Service uncovered just in time a plot to assassinate the President

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

as in field

a small area of usually open land grew vegetables in a little plot

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in property

a small piece of land that is developed or available for development subdivided the old farm into plots for tract houses

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in story

the unfolding of events in a dramatic or literary work wrote novels in which the plot was always subordinate to the characterizations

Synonyms & Similar Words

plot

2 of 2

verb

ˈplät

as in to scheme

to engage in a secret plan to accomplish evil or unlawful ends mobsters were caught plotting to take over the company

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun plot differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of plot are cabal, conspiracy, intrigue, and machination. While all these words mean "a plan secretly devised to accomplish an evil or treacherous end," plot implies careful foresight in planning a complex scheme.

an assassination plot

When might cabal be a better fit than plot?

The synonyms cabal and plot are sometimes interchangeable, but cabal typically applies to political intrigue involving persons of some eminence.

a cabal among powerful senators

In what contexts can conspiracy take the place of plot?

While in some cases nearly identical to plot, conspiracy implies a secret agreement among several people usually involving treason or great treachery.

a conspiracy to fix prices

When is intrigue a more appropriate choice than plot?

The words intrigue and plot are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, intrigue suggests secret underhanded maneuvering in an atmosphere of duplicity.

backstairs intrigue

When could machination be used to replace plot?

Although the words machination and plot have much in common, machination implies a contriving of annoyances, injuries, or evils by indirect means.

the machinations of a party boss

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 plot

Noun

Fincher explained that his interest in the project centered less on its plot than on the opportunity to explore the characters and their relationships against the backdrop of 1970s Hollywood. — Anna Tingley, Variety, 20 Oct. 2026 Yet the two plots remain separate and contemptuous of each other, with no denouement in sight. — Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 20 Oct. 2026

Verb

The Ride Trinity Metro website has a complete list of polling locations served by Trinity Metro where customers can plot out the best route based on their location. — Ella Gonzales, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 19 Oct. 2026 Recently, a Wall Street Journal report revealed that, in June, a group of wealthy Cuban Americans met at a mansion in the district, just a few miles south of Little Havana, to plot Cuba’s post-Communist future. — Daniel Castro, New Yorker, 17 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for plot

Recent Examples of Synonyms for plot

Noun

Democrats, meanwhile, called the dividend proposal a vote-buying scheme.

— Chad de Guzman, Time, 21 Oct. 2026
Disney actor Erik von Detten is being sued for allegedly scamming an elderly couple in a bizarre precious-metals scheme.

— Emily St. Martin, Los Angeles Times, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of scheme

Noun

Ramirez, who once taught snowboarding at the resort and has held other jobs there, admits he feels emotionally attached to the property.

— Lisa Boone, Los Angeles Times, 24 Oct. 2026
Walczak’s estimates assume local governments raise tax rates enough to fully replace the lost revenue, based on state property records for every parcel in Florida.

— Max Klaver, Miami Herald, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of property

Noun

Settlers bypassed local tribal bands and elevated a single Montaukett sachem to sign away vast tracts of land.

— Jason Motlagh, Rolling Stone, 22 Oct. 2026
Toxic haze has covered parts of Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore for weeks as Jakarta struggles to contain fires that have scorched large tracts of Borneo and Sumatra, with the smoke drifting across the region.

— Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of tract

Noun

Electric flight enters policing Astro could give officers another way to monitor the university’s campus and surrounding grounds.

— Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 21 Oct. 2026
The network, along with MS NOW and Politico, won a preliminary injunction in federal court last week, a blow to Trump’s effort to bar the outlets from the White House grounds.

— Scott Nover, Washington Post, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of ground

Noun

According to the district attorney's office, investigations starting in July 2024 showed that Lambert had mailed a parcel containing over a half kilogram of cocaine from Arizona to Grand Rapids, seen on surveillance video.

— Karma Sabbah, CBS News, 21 Oct. 2026
Other services reporting or experiencing disruption included property platform Rightmove, parcel delivery companies DPD and Royal Mail, telecommunications provider BT, and retailer Screwfix.

— Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of parcel

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plops

plot

plots

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Style

“Plot.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/plot. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of plot

noun

verb

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