co-conspirators
Partners in crime
Co-conspirators are people who conspire together—partners in a plot or scheme.
The term appears most often in legal contexts, where prosecutors identify co-conspirators as parties to the same criminal agreement: Three co-conspirators were indicted in the fraud case.
Outside courtrooms, it can describe any collaborators in mischief or secret plans: She and her co-conspirators planned the surprise party.
Crime's willing helper
- accessorySupplementary addition
- abettorOne who assists wrongdoing
- partner-in-crimeShared wrongdoing companion
- henchmanLoyal criminal subordinate
mob · gang · syndicate · cartel · ringleader · fence · lookout · getaway
Scheming political faction
- juntaPost-coup ruling clique
- coupAbrupt seizure of power
- seditionInciting revolt against government
- treasonBetraying one's nation
insurrection · subversion · revolution · rebellion · overthrow · assassination · espionage · sabotage
One who betrays allegiance
- turncoatOne who betrays allegiance
- informantOne who provides intelligence
- snitchOne who tells authorities
- ratRodent or informer
mole · defector · Judas · backstabber · sellout · whistleblower · double-cross · treachery
Concealed from authorities
- covertIntentionally concealed
- cloak-and-daggerInvolving secret intrigue
- undercoverSecretly engaged in espionage
- stealthSecret, undetected movement
furtive · surreptitious · confidential · discreet · veiled · shrouded · hidden · whispered
Allied partner in schemes
- collaboratorOne who works jointly
- cohortGroup sharing circumstances
- allySupportive partner
- associateConnect mentally or socially
comrade · partner · network · ring · circle · trusted · oath · pact
Crafty and calculating
- intrigueSecret plotting or fascination
- mastermindScheme's chief planner
- machinationCrafty scheming, often hostile
- connivingSecretly planning wrongdoing
planning · strategizing · maneuvering · orchestrating · hatching · devising · coordinating · engineering
accomplice
Crime's willing helper
- accessorySupplementary addition
- abettorOne who assists wrongdoing
- partner-in-crimeShared wrongdoing companion
henchman · mob · gang · syndicate · cartel · ringleader · fence · lookout · getaway · heist
cabal
Scheming political faction
treason · insurrection · subversion · revolution · rebellion · overthrow · assassination · espionage · sabotage · infiltration
traitor
One who betrays allegiance
- turncoatOne who betrays allegiance
- informantOne who provides intelligence
- snitchOne who tells authorities
rat · mole · defector · Judas · backstabber · sellout · whistleblower · double-cross · treachery · perfidy
clandestine
Concealed from authorities
- covertIntentionally concealed
- cloak-and-daggerInvolving secret intrigue
- undercoverSecretly engaged in espionage
stealth · furtive · surreptitious · confidential · discreet · veiled · shrouded · hidden · whispered · hushed
confederate
Allied partner in schemes
- collaboratorOne who works jointly
- cohortGroup sharing circumstances
- allySupportive partner
associate · comrade · partner · network · ring · circle · trusted · oath · pact · sworn
scheming
Crafty and calculating
- intrigueSecret plotting or fascination
- mastermindScheme's chief planner
- machinationCrafty scheming, often hostile
conniving · planning · strategizing · maneuvering · orchestrating · hatching · devising · coordinating · engineering · calculating
- surprise partiesguest of honor, secrecy, jumping out, shushing, shock
- social tiesfriends, pals, buddies, mates, companions
co-conspiratorsinvestigators
Those who examine facts
prosecutors · law enforcement · whistleblowers · informants · police
co-conspiratorsvictims
Those who suffer harm
targets · innocent bystanders · injured parties · marks · dupes
conspiracy, conspire, conspirator, conspiring, conspiratorial, conspired, conspires, co-conspirator