machinations
Cunning behind-the-scenes plots
Machinations are scheming plots or crafty maneuvers, usually secret and intended to accomplish some end through underhanded means.
The word nearly always appears in the plural and carries a sinister or at least suspicious tone: corporate machinations, political machinations, the machinations of her enemies.
Someone engaged in machinations is plotting, not planning.
Clandestine coordinated scheming
- cloak-and-daggerInvolving secret intrigue
- subterfugeDeliberate deception to conceal
- espionageCovert intelligence gathering
- spycraftMethods of secret agents
covert · clandestine · secrecy · treachery · betrayal · double-dealing · backstabbing · whispering
Deceptive plan for advantage
- ployCalculated deceptive tactic
- ruseDeliberate act of deception
- gambitRisky opening for advantage
- artificeClever deceptive strategy
contrivance · maneuver · device · design · masterplan · gameplan · scheme · plot
Crafty and calculating
- connivingSecretly planning wrongdoing
- calculatingColdly self-serving in strategy
- deviousUnderhanded and calculating
- slyCleverly deceptive
guile · artifice · craftiness · wile · trickery · chicanery · manipulation · underhanded
Coercive tactical advantage
- coupAbrupt seizure of power
- jockeyingCompeting for advantage
- lobbyingAdvocating to decision-makers
- MachiavellianRuthlessly manipulative in politics
kingmaking · factionalism · maneuvering · positioning · patronage · gamesmanship · realpolitik · horse-trading
conspiracy
Clandestine coordinated scheming
- cloak-and-daggerInvolving secret intrigue
- subterfugeDeliberate deception to conceal
- espionageCovert intelligence gathering
spycraft · covert · clandestine · secrecy · treachery · betrayal · double-dealing · backstabbing · whispering · plotting
stratagem
Deceptive plan for advantage
artifice · contrivance · maneuver · device · design · masterplan · gameplan · scheme · plot · conspiracy
scheming
Crafty and calculating
- connivingSecretly planning wrongdoing
- calculatingColdly self-serving in strategy
- deviousUnderhanded and calculating
sly · guile · artifice · craftiness · wile · trickery · chicanery · manipulation · underhanded · sneaky
power-play
Coercive tactical advantage
Machiavellian · kingmaking · factionalism · maneuvering · positioning · patronage · gamesmanship · realpolitik · horse-trading · string-pulling
- deceptionlie, lies, lying, fake, fraud
- cunningcunning, craftiness, crafty, guile, slyness
- court intrigueintrigue, plots, schemes, plotting, conspiracy
- Behind the Scenesbackstage, stunt double, body double, understudy, stand-in
- espionagespy, spies, double agent, double agents, spying
- deceptionslie, lies, lying, deceit, decoy
machinationsstraightforwardness
Quality of being direct
honesty · directness · transparency · candor · forthrightness
machinationsgood faith
Sincere, honest intent
benevolence · goodwill · good intentions · altruism · ethical behavior