conspire
Plan in secret
To conspire is to plan something secretly with others, usually something harmful or illegal: They conspired to overthrow the government.
The word carries connotations of scheming and hidden motives.
Events or circumstances can also conspire when they seem to combine against someone: Everything conspired to ruin the picnic.
A conspiracy is the noun form.
Scheming political faction
- complicityShared criminal involvement
- conniveSecretly cooperate in wrongdoing
- collaborateWork jointly with others
- confederateAllied partner in schemes
accomplice · insider · alliance · pact · collusion · syndicate · ring · partnership
Calculated strategy, often secretive
- machinationCrafty scheming, often hostile
- hatchOpening in deck or floor
- mastermindScheme's chief planner
- orchestrateArrange complex undertakings
devise · engineer · contrive · plan · strategize · maneuver · blueprint · gameplan
Deliberate violation of trust
- treasonBetraying one's nation
- seditionInciting revolt against government
- double-crossTreacherous deception of partner
- backstabBetray someone's trust
turncoat · traitor · betrayer · perfidy · disloyalty · mole · defector · Judas
Concealed from authorities
- covertIntentionally concealed
- surreptitiousDone secretly, avoiding detection
- underhandDeceptive and secret
- stealthySecretly cautious in movement
cloak-and-dagger · backdoor · hushed · whispered · shadowy · hidden · concealed · furtive
Forcible removal from power
- coupAbrupt seizure of power
- insurgencyArmed uprising against authority
- rebellionDefiance of established power
- uprisingOrganized resistance to power
mutiny · sabotage · destabilize · undermine · infiltrate · agitate · insurrection · revolution
Covert information gatherer
- intelligenceMental ability, cognitive capacity
- counterintelligenceDefense against enemy espionage
- surveillanceSystematic observation of subjects
- wiretapHidden listening device
reconnaissance · operative · handler · asset · informer · encrypt · decode · tradecraft
cabal
Scheming political faction
- complicityShared criminal involvement
- conniveSecretly cooperate in wrongdoing
- collaborateWork jointly with others
confederate · accomplice · insider · alliance · pact · collusion · syndicate · ring · partnership · network
scheme
Calculated strategy, often secretive
- machinationCrafty scheming, often hostile
- hatchOpening in deck or floor
- mastermindScheme's chief planner
orchestrate · devise · engineer · contrive · plan · strategize · maneuver · blueprint · gameplan · design
treachery
Deliberate violation of trust
- treasonBetraying one's nation
- seditionInciting revolt against government
- double-crossTreacherous deception of partner
backstab · turncoat · traitor · betrayer · perfidy · disloyalty · mole · defector · Judas · sellout
clandestine
Concealed from authorities
- covertIntentionally concealed
- surreptitiousDone secretly, avoiding detection
- underhandDeceptive and secret
stealthy · cloak-and-dagger · backdoor · hushed · whispered · shadowy · hidden · concealed · furtive · secretive
overthrow
Forcible removal from power
- coupAbrupt seizure of power
- insurgencyArmed uprising against authority
- rebellionDefiance of established power
uprising · mutiny · sabotage · destabilize · undermine · infiltrate · agitate · insurrection · revolution · topple
spy
Covert information gatherer
- intelligenceMental ability, cognitive capacity
- counterintelligenceDefense against enemy espionage
- surveillanceSystematic observation of subjects
wiretap · reconnaissance · operative · handler · asset · informer · encrypt · decode · tradecraft
- conspiracy theoriesUnproven secret plot beliefs
- conspiracy theoryAttributed to hidden plotters
- conspiracy theoristOne who suspects cover-ups
- conspiracy chargesFormal accusations of plotting crimes
- government conspiracySecret official wrongdoing
- conspiracy of silenceUnspoken agreement to conceal
conspiracy, conspirator, conspiring, conspired, conspirators, conspires, conspirer, conspirers