schemed
Connived in secret
Schemed is the past tense of scheme, meaning to make plans—usually secret or underhanded ones.
The word carries connotations of cunning and self-interest: They schemed to take over the company, He schemed his way into her inheritance.
Neutral planning is rarely called scheming; the word implies plotting.
Schemed or graphed
- conspiredSecretly planned wrongdoing together
- colludedPlotted together secretly
- intriguedHad curiosity aroused
- connivedSecretly cooperated in wrongdoing
masterminded · orchestrated · contrived · hatched · cabal · collusion · clandestine · covert
Underhanded and calculating
- slyCleverly deceptive
- craftyCleverly deceptive
- wilySkilled at deception
- calculatingColdly self-serving in strategy
shrewd · artful · guileful · conniving · underhanded · manipulative · Machiavellian · duplicitous
Formulated a plan
- plannedDecided on beforehand
- devisedPlanned or invented
- designedCreated according to plan
- formulatedCreated through methodical planning
calculated · blueprinted · mapped · outlined · projected · envisioned · premeditated · forethought
plotted
Schemed or graphed
- conspiredSecretly planned wrongdoing together
- colludedPlotted together secretly
- intriguedHad curiosity aroused
connived · masterminded · orchestrated · contrived · hatched · cabal · collusion · clandestine · covert · secretive
devious
Underhanded and calculating
calculating · shrewd · artful · guileful · conniving · underhanded · manipulative · Machiavellian · duplicitous · two-faced
strategized
Formulated a plan
formulated · calculated · blueprinted · mapped · outlined · projected · envisioned · premeditated · forethought · deliberate
maneuvered
Moved with calculated skill
- engineeredDesigned with technical precision
- finagledObtained through craftiness
- wangledGot through manipulation
rigged · fixed · deceived · exploited · coerced · swindled · defrauded · conned · duped · misled
- planningplan, planned, planners, to-do lists, calendars
schemedimprovised
Created without prior planning
winged it · reacted · blundered · ad-libbed · went with the flow
schemedaccepted
Formally agreed to
acquiesced · submitted · yielded · complied · went along
- color schemePlanned set of hues
- pyramid schemeFraud through endless recruitment
- scheme of thingsGeneral order of existence
- grand scheme of thingsOverall perspective on significance
- grand schemeOverarching strategy or design
- control scheme
scheme, scheming, schemes, schemer, schematic, schematics, schemers, schematize, schematized