MASTERMINDS Synonyms: 78 Similar and Opposite Words

masterminds 1 of 2

noun

plural of mastermind

as in architects

a person who designs and guides a plan or undertaking the real mastermind behind the embezzlement scheme

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masterminds

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of mastermind

as in engineers

to plan out usually with subtle skill or care he was charged with masterminding a plan to redecorate the suite of offices without seriously disrupting business operations

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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 masterminds

Noun

Authorities were seeking both the assassins and masterminds of the crime, according to the president. — Los Angeles Times, 5 Aug. 2026 Peer groups, masterminds, advisory relationships built around honest reporting—these create a form of social commitment that internal motivation alone does not sustain. — Skye Blanks, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026 Both Flores and new Dolphins coach Jeff Hafley are defensive masterminds, so hopefully this will be a quite the chess match. — Miami Herald, 16 July 2026 There’s a lot of genius masterminds working on that right now for season two, and I have not been told one way or another. — Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 7 July 2026 Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce are both masterminds in their own right for branding and marketing. — Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 4 July 2026 The inflatable work includes a sound element created by Thomas Bangalter, one of the two masterminds of the French electronic-music duo Daft Punk, and had been scheduled to be on view from June 6 through June 28. — Andy Battaglia, ARTnews.com, 3 June 2026 The Bungalow Kitchen comes from masterminds Michael Mina and Brent Bolthouse. — Nora Heston Tarte, Mercury News, 18 May 2026 These are two elite teams led by masterminds on opposite sides of the ball in Kyle Shanahan and Mike Macdonald. — Saad Yousuf, New York Times, 15 May 2026

Verb

Those meetings included Bolton, Galliano and Anna Wintour, the Vogue editor who masterminds the Met Gala every year. — ABC News, 31 July 2026 The same studio that produced the Godzilla franchise, Toho, masterminds one of the most horrifying and disturbingly humorous psychedelic films to date. — Steven Thrash, Entertainment Weekly, 25 Oct. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for masterminds

Noun

Luxury residential and commercial builder MODAA Construction launched its Foundations podcast to spotlight architects, designers and builders shaping high-end residential construction.

— Julio Cesar Gomez, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026
Because the existing house has a semicircular floor plan, the architects thought a typical square structure would not suit the property.

— Lisa Boone, Los Angeles Times, 11 Aug. 2026

Definition of architects

Verb

When Gilla Band hit the road, their front-of-house guy drives, Fox also engineers, Kiely sells merch, and Faulkner runs tech.

— Laura Snapes, Pitchfork, 9 July 2026
Our enterprising Gravedigger, a true woman of science, engineers a lizard elixir and regenerates the finger into a long tentacle that eventually demands a body.

— Katie Walsh, Los Angeles Times, 27 Mar. 2026

Definition of engineers

Verb

Plus, the Office of Science and Technology Policy plots a venture capital-like model for the scientific grant process.

— Benjamin Guggenheim, Washington Post, 23 July 2026
Capitalizing on the tide of anti-Rhaenyra sentiment rising among the peasants of King's Landing, Ormund plots to sow further unrest by paying off a band of smallfolk to brutally torture and kill members of the City Watch.

— Megan McCluskey, Time, 20 July 2026

Definition of plots

Verb

Richard Friedman, an employment attorney who negotiates contracts and separation agreements for executives, said Forbes was within its rights.

— Catherina Gioino, Fortune, 14 Aug. 2026
Through the partnership, Chalice uses data to determine which people are the most likely to be receptive to One A Day online display ads, then its AI negotiates prices for the ads with Amazon’s DSP.

— Megan Poinski, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026

Definition of negotiates

Verb

The 23-foot Winnebago EKKO moves awkwardly, changing direction every few seconds as Bernert carefully maneuvers it into position.

— Sarah Silbiger, CNN Money, 25 July 2026
Crystal’s fluid staging, full of agile and vibrant design choices, smoothly maneuvers the action.

— Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 20 May 2026

Definition of maneuvers

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“Masterminds.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/masterminds. Accessed 16 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of masterminds

noun

verb

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