conspirators
Cabal of plotters
Conspirators are people who secretly plan together to do something harmful or illegal.
The word carries connotations of treachery and hidden schemes—political conspirators plot coups, criminal conspirators plan heists.
The conspirators met in secret to finalize their plan.
Unlike mere accomplices, conspirators implies active participation in the plotting itself.
Scheming political faction
- schemersCrafty plot makers
- coconspiratorsJoint participants in conspiracy
- colludersSecret agreement participants
- accomplicesPartners in crime
confederates · intriguers · manipulators · masterminds · ringleaders · instigators · operatives · henchmen
Those who commit disloyalty
- backstabbersThose who deceive allies
- turncoatsThose who betray loyalties
- informantsPeople providing secret intelligence
- molesBurrowing insectivore mammals
defectors · quislings · Judas · double-crossers · sellouts · snitches · rats · infiltrators
Those fighting established authority
- revolutionariesThose seeking systemic overthrow
- rebelsArmed opposition fighters
- dissidentsPolitical objectors
- agitatorsThose who incite disturbance
saboteurs · seditionists · insurrectionists · provocateurs · radicals · anarchists · resistance · partisans
Intentionally concealed
- clandestineConcealed from authorities
- undercoverSecretly engaged in espionage
- furtiveSecretive and sly
- stealthySecretly cautious in movement
surreptitious · cloak-and-dagger · underground · hidden · secretive · shadowy · veiled · masked
Calculated strategy, often secretive
- plotStoryline or land parcel
- intrigueSecret plotting or fascination
- machinationCrafty scheming, often hostile
- stratagemDeceptive plan for advantage
gambit · ploy · subterfuge · ruse · contrivance · maneuver · deception · cover-up
cabal
Scheming political faction
- schemersCrafty plot makers
- coconspiratorsJoint participants in conspiracy
- colludersSecret agreement participants
accomplices · confederates · intriguers · manipulators · masterminds · ringleaders · instigators · operatives · henchmen · abettors
traitors
Those who commit disloyalty
- backstabbersThose who deceive allies
- turncoatsThose who betray loyalties
- informantsPeople providing secret intelligence
moles · defectors · quislings · Judas · double-crossers · sellouts · snitches · rats · infiltrators · plants
insurgents
Those fighting established authority
- revolutionariesThose seeking systemic overthrow
- rebelsArmed opposition fighters
- dissidentsPolitical objectors
agitators · saboteurs · seditionists · insurrectionists · provocateurs · radicals · anarchists · resistance · partisans · guerrillas
covert
Intentionally concealed
- clandestineConcealed from authorities
- undercoverSecretly engaged in espionage
- furtiveSecretive and sly
stealthy · surreptitious · cloak-and-dagger · underground · hidden · secretive · shadowy · veiled · masked · incognito
scheme
Calculated strategy, often secretive
- plotStoryline or land parcel
- intrigueSecret plotting or fascination
- machinationCrafty scheming, often hostile
stratagem · gambit · ploy · subterfuge · ruse · contrivance · maneuver · deception · cover-up · frame-up
- espionagespy, spies, double agent, double agents, spying
- Bonfire Nightbonfire, bonfires, firework display, Guy Fawkes, sparklers
- Julius CaesarJulius Caesar, Caesar, Brutus, Cassius, Marc Antony
- Lincoln assassinationJohn Wilkes Booth, Ford's Theatre, assassination, Booth, derringer
- Shakespeare's Rome & VeniceOthello, The Merchant of Venice, Julius Caesar, Antony and Cleopatra, Venice
- January Uprisinginsurgents, insurgent forces, insurgent leaders, national government, guerrilla warfare
conspiratorswhistleblowers
Those exposing organizational misconduct
truth-tellers · public servants · protectors · guardians · defenders
conspiratorsinvestigators
Those who examine facts
exposers · informants · witnesses · victims · targets