criminal mastermind
Villain pulling strings
A criminal mastermind is the brilliant architect behind elaborate illegal schemes—the person who plans heists, orchestrates fraud, or directs criminal organizations while others carry out the work.
The term suggests exceptional intelligence applied to illicit ends: The FBI spent years trying to identify the criminal mastermind behind the operation.
Often used with ironic exaggeration for minor wrongdoing: So you're the criminal mastermind who's been stealing lunches from the break room.
- schemerCrafty, deceitful planner
- manipulatorOne who controls cunningly
- geniusPerson of rare brilliance
- strategistExpert in planning campaigns
- evil geniusWicked yet brilliant schemer
pulling the strings · planner · tactician · one step ahead · cunning · blackmailer · fraudster · calculating · diabolical · ruthless · kingpin · Lex Luthor · forger · Moriarty · arch nemesis · extortionist · Machiavellian · racketeer
- crime filmsheist film, film noir, murder mystery, mystery film, police procedural
- mastermindsevil genius, genius, strategist, schemer, plotter
- crime fictiondetective fiction, murder mystery, detective novels, detective novel, detective
- Sherlock HolmesSherlock Holmes, Watson, Baker Street, Moriarty, Mrs. Hudson
- fugitivesfugitive, escapee, escaped convict, runaway, prison escapee
criminal mastermindhenchman
Loyal criminal subordinate
foot soldier · lackey · hired muscle · minion · grunt