mastermind
Brains behind it
A mastermind is the person who plans and directs a complex operation, especially a crime: Police arrested the mastermind behind the heist.
The word implies intelligence and orchestration—the mastermind conceives the scheme while others execute it.
As a verb, to mastermind is to plan and direct: She masterminded the company's expansion into Asia.
Criminal organization's leader
- heistOrganized large-scale theft
- conspiratorOne planning in secret
- mobsterOrganized crime member
- godfatherMale baptismal guardian
cartel · syndicate · racketeer · smuggler · fraudster · embezzlement · blackmail · underworld
Gifted youth with rare talent
- savantPerson of profound learning
- brillianceExceptional intelligence or luster
- intellectMental reasoning capacity
- polymathMulti-domain expert
brainpower · ingenuity · Einstein · inventor · philosopher · scholar · innovation · insight
Imaginative planner of futures
- mentorTrusted wisdom-giving advisor
- architectBuilding design professional
- organizerArrangement tool or person
- directorOne who leads
orchestrator · planner · brains · puppetmaster · coordinator · chief · captain · behind-the-scenes
Storyline or land parcel
- conspiracyClandestine coordinated scheming
- manipulationUnderhanded control of others
- orchestrateArrange complex undertakings
- machinationCrafty scheming, often hostile
gambit · ploy · ruse · subterfuge · deception · maneuver · blueprint · architect
Methods to achieve goals
- chessStrategic board game
- warfareArmed conflict between groups
- campaignOrganized effort toward goal
- generalWidespread, not specialized
commander · logistics · planning · deployment · flanking · maneuver · siege · operation
Covert information gatherer
- covertIntentionally concealed
- clandestineConcealed from authorities
- moleSubterranean insectivore
- counterintelligenceDefense against enemy espionage
infiltration · undercover · intelligence · handler · operative · spymaster · asset · surveillance
kingpin
Criminal organization's leader
- heistOrganized large-scale theft
- conspiratorOne planning in secret
- mobsterOrganized crime member
godfather · cartel · syndicate · racketeer · smuggler · fraudster · embezzlement · blackmail · underworld · mafia
prodigy
Gifted youth with rare talent
- savantPerson of profound learning
- brillianceExceptional intelligence or luster
- intellectMental reasoning capacity
polymath · brainpower · ingenuity · Einstein · inventor · philosopher · scholar · innovation · insight · reasoning
visionary
Imaginative planner of futures
- mentorTrusted wisdom-giving advisor
- architectBuilding design professional
- organizerArrangement tool or person
director · orchestrator · planner · brains · puppetmaster · coordinator · chief · captain · behind-the-scenes · driving force
plot
Storyline or land parcel
- conspiracyClandestine coordinated scheming
- manipulationUnderhanded control of others
- orchestrateArrange complex undertakings
machination · gambit · ploy · ruse · subterfuge · deception · maneuver · blueprint · architect · puppeteer
tactics
Methods to achieve goals
general · commander · logistics · planning · deployment · flanking · maneuver · siege · operation · calculated
spy
Covert information gatherer
- covertIntentionally concealed
- clandestineConcealed from authorities
- moleSubterranean insectivore
counterintelligence · infiltration · undercover · intelligence · handler · operative · spymaster · asset · surveillance · cipher
- heistsheist, bank job, bank heist, bank robbery, art heist
- ringleadersringleader, ring leader, kingpin, mob boss, crime boss
- puzzle gamessudoku, matching, jigsaw puzzle, tetris, tiles
- crimerobbery, accomplice, alibi, burglary, conspiracy
- mystery fictionwhodunit, whodunnit, sleuth, murder mystery, detective novel
- Spy Fictionspy, secret agent, double agent, MI6, CIA
- criminal mastermindGenius orchestrating illegal schemes