plotting
Planning in secret
Plotting is planning or scheming, often with secretive or sinister overtones: They were plotting against the king, She suspected her coworkers were plotting behind her back.
In fiction writing, plotting is the craft of constructing a story's sequence of events.
In technical contexts, plotting means marking points on a graph or chart, or determining position on a map: plotting coordinates, plotting a course.
Calculated strategy, often secretive
- conspiracyClandestine coordinated scheming
- machinationCrafty scheming, often hostile
- intrigueSecret plotting or fascination
- collusionFraudulent secret cooperation
cabal · maneuver · double-dealing · conniving · manipulation · treachery · sedition · subversion
Sequence of fictional events
- arcCurved line segment
- structureArrangement of interconnected parts
- narrativeAccount of events
- pacingRate of movement
foreshadowing · twist · climax · denouement · exposition · tension · conflict · resolution
Detailed technical drawing
- outlineSummary of key elements
- strategyPlanned approach to goals
- roadmapDetailed plan forward
- frameworkUnderlying support system
gameplan · mapping · charting · designing · drafting · schematic · layout · logistics
Sly, scheming cleverness
- slyCleverly deceptive
- deviousUnderhanded and calculating
- wilySkilled at deception
- craftyCleverly deceptive
calculating · manipulative · scheming · conniving · underhanded · duplicitous · guileful · treacherous
Data shown visually
- graphVisual data display
- coordinatesLocation-specifying number pairs
- axisRotation reference line
- dataFacts for analysis
points · curve · scatter · regression · trajectory · trendline · mapping · visualization
scheme
Calculated strategy, often secretive
- conspiracyClandestine coordinated scheming
- machinationCrafty scheming, often hostile
- intrigueSecret plotting or fascination
collusion · cabal · maneuver · double-dealing · conniving · manipulation · treachery · sedition · subversion · sabotage
storyline
Sequence of fictional events
pacing · foreshadowing · twist · climax · denouement · exposition · tension · conflict · resolution · setup
blueprint
Detailed technical drawing
framework · gameplan · mapping · charting · designing · drafting · schematic · layout · logistics · tactics
cunning
Sly, scheming cleverness
crafty · calculating · manipulative · scheming · conniving · underhanded · duplicitous · guileful · treacherous · deceitful
chart
Data shown visually
- graphVisual data display
- coordinatesLocation-specifying number pairs
- axisRotation reference line
data · points · curve · scatter · regression · trajectory · trendline · mapping · visualization · interpolation
- cunningcunning, craftiness, crafty, guile, slyness
- cunning tacticscunning, guile, ruse, ploy, stratagem
- dirty trickscheating, lying, deceit, trickery, deception
- hidden motivesulterior motive, hidden agenda, secret plan, scheming, deceit
- coordinate geometrycoordinate, coordinates, coordinate plane, coordinate grid, Cartesian plane
- revenge talesvengeance, vendetta, retribution, blood feud, grudge
plottingimprovising
Creating spontaneously without plan
winging it · reacting · going with the flow · ad-libbing · extemporizing
plottingtransparency
State of being see-through
forthrightness · acting in good faith · candor · honesty · directness
- course plottingPlanning a travel route
plot, plots, plotted, plotter, subplot, counterplot, replotted, unplotted