ringleader
Boss of conspirators
A ringleader is the person who leads or organizes a group engaged in some activity—almost always illicit, mischievous, or rebellious.
The word suggests someone who instigates trouble and recruits others to join: Police arrested the ringleader of the smuggling operation.
Among children, the ringleader is whoever hatches the scheme the others follow.
Scheme's chief planner
- bossWorkplace superior
- kingpinCriminal organization's leader
- godfatherMale baptismal guardian
- donPut on attire
capo · mobster · gangster · syndicate · cartel · mafia · underworld · racketeer
Machinator or diagram machine
- schemerCrafty, deceitful planner
- conspiratorOne planning in secret
- architectBuilding design professional
- strategistExpert in planning campaigns
orchestrator · planner · mastermind · conniver · manipulator · puppeteer · brains · plot
One who foments discord
- provocateurOne who deliberately incites
- inciterOne who provokes action
- fomenterOne who incites trouble
- troublemakerOne who creates discord
rabble-rouser · firebrand · pot-stirrer · stirrer · antagonist · provoker · disruptor · catalyst
Authority defier
- revolutionarySeeking fundamental systemic change
- insurgentOne who revolts
- subversiveSeeking to undermine authority
- dissidentOpposer of established systems
seditionist · anarchist · radical · guerrilla · resistance · uprising · coup · mutiny
mastermind
Scheme's chief planner
don · capo · mobster · gangster · syndicate · cartel · mafia · underworld · racketeer · smuggler
plotter
Machinator or diagram machine
- schemerCrafty, deceitful planner
- conspiratorOne planning in secret
- architectBuilding design professional
strategist · orchestrator · planner · mastermind · conniver · manipulator · puppeteer · brains · plot · conspiracy
agitator
One who foments discord
- provocateurOne who deliberately incites
- inciterOne who provokes action
- fomenterOne who incites trouble
troublemaker · rabble-rouser · firebrand · pot-stirrer · stirrer · antagonist · provoker · disruptor · catalyst · instigator
rebel
Authority defier
- revolutionarySeeking fundamental systemic change
- insurgentOne who revolts
- subversiveSeeking to undermine authority
dissident · seditionist · anarchist · radical · guerrilla · resistance · uprising · coup · mutiny · defiance
boss
Workplace superior
crew · posse · thugs · hoodlums · delinquents · hooligans · vandals · outlaws · bandits · pack
ringmaster
Circus performance director
spotlight · baton · announcer · emcee · performer · spectacle · act · show · entertainer · impresario
- ringleadersmastermind, kingpin, mob boss, crime boss, mafia don
- heistsheist, bank job, bank heist, bank robbery, art heist
- informal rolesfollower, peacemaker, troublemaker, mediator, mentor
- mutinymutiny, mutineer, mutinous, naval mutiny, revolt
- troublemakerstroublemaker, rascals, delinquents, imps, brats
- troublemakingtroublemaker, troublemaking, instigate, agitator, instigating
ringleaderfollower
One who supports another
underling · subordinate · minion · lackey · pawn
ringleaderpeacemaker
Conflict resolution agent
mediator · voice of reason · peacekeeper · conciliator · pacifier