conspirers
Those who collude
Conspirers are people who conspire—who plot secretly with others toward some end, usually illegal or harmful.
The word carries a sense of active scheming: The conspirers met in back rooms to plan the coup.
Conspirator is more common in formal contexts, but conspirers emphasizes the ongoing action of conspiring rather than membership in a conspiracy.
Calculated strategy, often secretive
- intrigueSecret plotting or fascination
- machinationCrafty scheming, often hostile
- ployCalculated deceptive tactic
- gambitRisky opening for advantage
plan · subterfuge · stratagem · maneuver · design · agenda · operation · coup
Joint participants in conspiracy
- cohortsGroups of accomplices
- confederatesAllies in wrongdoing
- abettorsThose aiding lawbreakers
- collaboratorsPeople who work jointly
henchmen · cronies · comrades · associates · aides · minions · underlings · sidekicks
Concealed from authorities
- covertIntentionally concealed
- furtiveSecretive and sly
- surreptitiousDone secretly, avoiding detection
- stealthySecretly cautious in movement
cloak-and-dagger · undercover · hidden · veiled · shadowy · hush-hush · back-channel · underground
Chief organizer of wrongdoing
- orchestratorOne who organizes complex efforts
- architectBuilding design professional
- schemerCrafty, deceitful planner
- plotterMachinator or diagram machine
strategist · instigator · manipulator · puppeteer · brains · engineer · director · contriver
Those who commit disloyalty
- betrayersThose who break faith
- backstabbersThose who deceive allies
- turncoatsThose who betray loyalties
- double-crossersPeople who betray allies
defectors · saboteurs · infiltrators · moles · seditionists · subversives · mutineers · quislings
scheme
Calculated strategy, often secretive
- intrigueSecret plotting or fascination
- machinationCrafty scheming, often hostile
- ployCalculated deceptive tactic
gambit · plan · subterfuge · stratagem · maneuver · design · agenda · operation · coup · deception
coconspirators
Joint participants in conspiracy
- cohortsGroups of accomplices
- confederatesAllies in wrongdoing
- abettorsThose aiding lawbreakers
collaborators · henchmen · cronies · comrades · associates · aides · minions · underlings · sidekicks · accessories
clandestine
Concealed from authorities
- covertIntentionally concealed
- furtiveSecretive and sly
- surreptitiousDone secretly, avoiding detection
stealthy · cloak-and-dagger · undercover · hidden · veiled · shadowy · hush-hush · back-channel · underground · incognito
ringleader
Chief organizer of wrongdoing
- orchestratorOne who organizes complex efforts
- architectBuilding design professional
- schemerCrafty, deceitful planner
plotter · strategist · instigator · manipulator · puppeteer · brains · engineer · director · contriver · organizer
traitors
Those who commit disloyalty
- betrayersThose who break faith
- backstabbersThose who deceive allies
- turncoatsThose who betray loyalties
double-crossers · defectors · saboteurs · infiltrators · moles · seditionists · subversives · mutineers · quislings · informants
faction
Group within group
- syndicateCombined group pursuing shared interest
- coalitionTemporary alliance for action
- leagueAssociation or distance unit
cartel · clique · coterie · cell · ring · network · circle · brotherhood · underground · junta
conspirerslone wolves
Solitary, self-reliant individuals
mavericks · freelancers · rogues · wildcards
conspirerswhistleblowers
Those exposing organizational misconduct
truth-tellers · informants · exposers · public servants · watchdogs
conspirersloyalists
Faithful to established authority
defenders · protectors · guardians · upholders · preservers