machinated
Crafted devious plans
Machinated is the past tense of machinate, meaning to plot or scheme, especially with harmful intent.
The word carries connotations of elaborate, secretive planning: They machinated against the CEO for months before the coup.
It's formal and somewhat literary—in everyday speech, people more often say plotted or schemed.
Schemed or graphed
- colludedPlotted together secretly
- connivedSecretly cooperated in wrongdoing
- schemedCrafted underhanded plans
- cabalScheming political faction
treason · sedition · betrayal · complicity · double-cross · treachery · backstabbing · collusion
Designed with technical precision
- orchestratedDeliberately arranged complex elements
- mastermindedPlanned and directed cleverly
- devisedPlanned or invented
- contrivedDeliberately manufactured, unnatural
premeditated · strategized · maneuvered · manipulated · crafted · designed · planned · plotted
Concealed from authorities
- cloak-and-daggerInvolving secret intrigue
- undercoverSecretly engaged in espionage
- espionageCovert intelligence gathering
- spycraftMethods of secret agents
counterintelligence · subterfuge · deception · covert · secret · furtive · surreptitious · stealthy
plotted
Schemed or graphed
- colludedPlotted together secretly
- connivedSecretly cooperated in wrongdoing
- schemedCrafted underhanded plans
cabal · treason · sedition · betrayal · complicity · double-cross · treachery · backstabbing · collusion · conspiracy
engineered
Designed with technical precision
- orchestratedDeliberately arranged complex elements
- mastermindedPlanned and directed cleverly
- devisedPlanned or invented
contrived · premeditated · strategized · maneuvered · manipulated · crafted · designed · planned · plotted · arranged
clandestine
Concealed from authorities
- cloak-and-daggerInvolving secret intrigue
- undercoverSecretly engaged in espionage
- espionageCovert intelligence gathering
spycraft · counterintelligence · subterfuge · deception · covert · secret · furtive · surreptitious · stealthy · underhanded
machinatedspontaneous
Arising without external cause
unplanned · accidental · unpremeditated · impromptu · unintentional
machinatedhonest
Free from deception
sincere · straightforward · aboveboard · forthright · candid
machination, machinations, machinate, machinator, machinating, machinates