connive
Secretly work together
To connive is to secretly allow or cooperate in wrongdoing, typically by looking the other way: The guards connived at the smuggling operation.
More broadly, connive means to conspire or scheme: They connived to rig the election.
The word implies willful blindness or quiet collaboration rather than active participation.
Secretly cooperate to deceive
- cabalScheming political faction
- conspiracyClandestine coordinated scheming
- machinatePlot craftily, secretly
- plotStoryline or land parcel
scheme · collaborate · collusion · cahoots · intrigue · confederate · league · band together
Refuse to notice
- turn a blind eyeDeliberately ignore something obvious
- condoneAccept without protest
- toleratePermit without approval
- permitOfficial written authorization
allow · acquiesce · countenance · sanction · disregard · look away · excuse · indulge
Concealed from authorities
- furtiveSecretive and sly
- covertIntentionally concealed
- stealthySecretly cautious in movement
- surreptitiousDone secretly, avoiding detection
undercover · cloak-and-dagger · hidden · sub rosa · hush-hush · backroom · behind closed doors · under the table
Sly, scheming cleverness
- craftyCleverly deceptive
- calculatingColdly self-serving in strategy
- manipulativeSkilled at controlling others
- slyCleverly deceptive
wily · artful · devious · guileful · shrewd · Machiavellian · foxlike · underhanded
collude
Secretly cooperate to deceive
- cabalScheming political faction
- conspiracyClandestine coordinated scheming
- machinatePlot craftily, secretly
plot · scheme · collaborate · collusion · cahoots · intrigue · confederate · league · band together · hatch
ignore
Refuse to notice
- turn a blind eyeDeliberately ignore something obvious
- condoneAccept without protest
- toleratePermit without approval
permit · allow · acquiesce · countenance · sanction · disregard · look away · excuse · indulge · blind eye
clandestine
Concealed from authorities
surreptitious · undercover · cloak-and-dagger · hidden · sub rosa · hush-hush · backroom · behind closed doors · under the table · whispered
cunning
Sly, scheming cleverness
- craftyCleverly deceptive
- calculatingColdly self-serving in strategy
- manipulativeSkilled at controlling others
sly · wily · artful · devious · guileful · shrewd · Machiavellian · foxlike · underhanded · designing
- deceptionlie, lies, lying, fake, fraud
- dirty tacticsdirty trick, dirty tricks, dirty pool, foul play, cheap shot
conniveexpose
Make known publicly
report · denounce · blow the whistle · enforce · hold accountable