machinate
Devise evil plans
To machinate is to scheme or plot, especially in secret and with harmful intent.
The word implies calculated, underhanded planning: They machinated against the regime for years before acting.
Machinate is formal and somewhat rare; its noun forms—machination and machinations—appear more frequently: political machinations, the machinations of her enemies.
Storyline or land parcel
- schemeCalculated strategy, often secretive
- colludeSecretly cooperate to deceive
- cabalScheming political faction
- conniveSecretly cooperate in wrongdoing
conspire · intrigue · confederate · hatch · concoct · contrive · concert · collaborate
Technical design professional
- maneuverDeliberate tactical movement
- manipulateControl through clever influence
- mastermindScheme's chief planner
- stage-manageControl from behind scenes
pull strings · finagle · choreograph · arrange · set up · rig · fix · angle
Concealed from authorities
- covertIntentionally concealed
- cloak-and-daggerInvolving secret intrigue
- subterfugeDeliberate deception to conceal
- backstairsCovert or underhanded
undercover · stealthy · furtive · surreptitious · behind-the-scenes · hush-hush · under-the-table · shadowy
Crafty and calculating
guileful · calculating · devious · shrewd · Machiavellian · foxy · underhanded · manipulative
Breaking of trust
- treacheryDeliberate violation of trust
- double-dealingDeceptive practice of betrayal
- backstabbingCovert betrayal of trust
- treasonBetraying one's nation
sedition · duplicitous · perfidious · two-faced · Judas · turncoat · sellout · stab in the back
plot
Storyline or land parcel
- schemeCalculated strategy, often secretive
- colludeSecretly cooperate to deceive
- cabalScheming political faction
connive · conspire · intrigue · confederate · hatch · concoct · contrive · concert · collaborate · league
engineer
Technical design professional
- maneuverDeliberate tactical movement
- manipulateControl through clever influence
- mastermindScheme's chief planner
stage-manage · pull strings · finagle · choreograph · arrange · set up · rig · fix · angle · jockey
clandestine
Concealed from authorities
- covertIntentionally concealed
- cloak-and-daggerInvolving secret intrigue
- subterfugeDeliberate deception to conceal
backstairs · undercover · stealthy · furtive · surreptitious · behind-the-scenes · hush-hush · under-the-table · shadowy · veiled
scheming
Crafty and calculating
artful · guileful · calculating · devious · shrewd · Machiavellian · foxy · underhanded · manipulative · designing
betrayal
Breaking of trust
- treacheryDeliberate violation of trust
- double-dealingDeceptive practice of betrayal
- backstabbingCovert betrayal of trust
treason · sedition · duplicitous · perfidious · two-faced · Judas · turncoat · sellout · stab in the back · snake in the grass