conspire

verb

kən-ˈspī(-ə)r How to pronounce conspire (audio)
Definition of conspirenext
1
as in to plot
to engage in a secret plan to accomplish evil or unlawful ends conspired to replace the leader with someone more easily influenced

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in to cooperate
to participate or assist in a joint effort to accomplish an end foul weather and airline foul-ups seemed to be conspiring to ruin our vacation

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 conspire Lemon, who has pleaded not guilty, faces charges of conspiring to interfere with religious rights and violating the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act, or FACE Act. — Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 7 Aug. 2026 The current system was adopted by voters in 1958 following a notorious political scandal that saw a sitting governor conspire with the chief justice and his lieutenant governor to be appointed to the court after losing re-election. — Ben Wheeler, Kansas City Star, 5 Aug. 2026 Rabbitt said that planning for the deaths took place as far back as June 5, as Steadman and Myers, who lived in the same apartment building, had been allegedly conspiring through texts about their plot. — Matt Foster, ABC News, 4 Aug. 2026 The system was implemented in 1958 following corruption scandal that saw the sitting governor conspire with the chief justice and the lieutenant governor to be appointed to the court after losing a re-election bid, according to the Kansas City Star. — Phillip M. Bailey, USA Today, 4 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for conspire
Recent Examples of Synonyms for conspire
  1. plot
  2. cooperate
  3. scheme
  4. collaborate
  5. unite
Verb
  • The Voyagers have been skirting this dismal fate for years now, with NASA engineers carefully monitoring each spacecraft’s power supplies and plotting out when to turn off individual instruments to keep the missions going as long as possible.
    — Meghan Bartels, Scientific American, 7 Aug. 2026
  • While this reunion was happening, Juke was watching from a safe distance, plotting.
    — Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of plot
Verb
  • Floridians must decide in advance whether work, illness, weather, traffic and children will cooperate.
    — Jeffrey T. Donner, The Orlando Sentinel, 9 Aug. 2026
  • The statement urged cities to cooperate with ICE and praised the work of immigration officers.
    — Christopher Cann, USA Today, 9 Aug. 2026
Definition of cooperate
Verb
  • Shanahan schemed up multiple 100-yard games for Kendrick Bourne, and even journeyman Demarcus Robinson had 111 yards in the playoffs against the Eagles — neither receiver had a 100-yard game since 2022.
    — Ted Nguyen, New York Times, 29 July 2026
  • Corey Hawkins as Polybus Polybus is another one of Penelope’s many suitors who scheme to take her hand and kingdoms for themselves.
    — Hannah Abraham, Forbes.com, 18 July 2026
Definition of scheme
Verb
  • The pair would continue to collaborate over the years, with Orbit assisting on Madonna’s Music and MDNA.
    — Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone, 8 Aug. 2026
  • However, working with the Sterling Point cast allowed the actor to collaborate with a host of other young people also newer to the industry.
    — Nicole Fell, HollywoodReporter, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of collaborate
Verb
  • Kemp and Jackson united at the Georgia Chamber’s annual congressional luncheon for the first time since Jackson’s party-rattling primary win.
    — AJ Willingham, AJC.com, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Right’s multiculturalism Meanwhile, the American right was increasingly united less by biological notions of race and more by opposition to multiculturalism, feminism, LGBTQ+ rights, immigration and liberalism.
    — Eladio Bobadilla, Mercury News, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of unite

Browse Nearby Words

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conspire
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Cite this Entry

“Conspire.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/conspire. Accessed 13 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on conspire

Nglish: Translation of conspire for Spanish Speakers

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