schemer
Devious plot-maker
A schemer is someone who makes plans, especially cunning or underhanded ones.
The word carries negative connotations—schemers pursue their goals through manipulation rather than honest effort: Office schemers always seem to get ahead.
A schemer calculates angles others don't see, often at others' expense.
One planning in secret
- mastermindScheme's chief planner
- intriguerOne who schemes secretly
- machinatorOne who schemes deviously
- manipulatorOne who controls cunningly
conniver · co-conspirator · colluder · ringleader · instigator · orchestrator · puppeteer · architect
Sly, strategic dishonesty
- slyCleverly deceptive
- wilesDeceptive stratagems
- craftyCleverly deceptive
- shrewdPractically clever, perceptive
astute · clever · cagey · wiliness · artful · calculating · devious · slippery
Risky opening for advantage
Clandestine coordinated scheming
- machinationCrafty scheming, often hostile
- subterfugeDeliberate deception to conceal
- espionageCovert intelligence gathering
- cloak-and-daggerInvolving secret intrigue
clandestine · secretive · collusion · spycraft · infiltration · covert · cabal · plot
Deliberate deception or fraud
- deceitDeliberate misleading of others
- duplicityDeliberate misleading behavior
- dishonestInclined to deceive
- untrustworthyNot deserving of confidence
crooked · deceitful · underhanded · fraudulent · two-faced · false · treacherous · lying
Skilled planner of action
- plannerAgenda for scheduling
- thinkerOne who contemplates
- architectBuilding design professional
- designerOne who plans appearances
visionary · calculator · operator · player · fixer · dealmaker · power broker · Machiavelli
conspirator
One planning in secret
- mastermindScheme's chief planner
- intriguerOne who schemes secretly
- machinatorOne who schemes deviously
manipulator · conniver · co-conspirator · colluder · ringleader · instigator · orchestrator · puppeteer · architect · brains
guile
Sly, strategic dishonesty
shrewd · astute · clever · cagey · wiliness · artful · calculating · devious · slippery · shifty
gambit
Risky opening for advantage
maneuver · plan · plot · trick · trap · setup · angle · move · play · calculation
conspiracy
Clandestine coordinated scheming
- machinationCrafty scheming, often hostile
- subterfugeDeliberate deception to conceal
- espionageCovert intelligence gathering
cloak-and-dagger · clandestine · secretive · collusion · spycraft · infiltration · covert · cabal · plot · secret
trickery
Deliberate deception or fraud
- deceitDeliberate misleading of others
- duplicityDeliberate misleading behavior
- dishonestInclined to deceive
untrustworthy · crooked · deceitful · underhanded · fraudulent · two-faced · false · treacherous · lying · cheating
tactician
Skilled planner of action
designer · visionary · calculator · operator · player · fixer · dealmaker · power broker · Machiavelli · Iago
exploit
Notable act or abuse
pretense · influence · control · gaslight · undermine · sabotage · pressure · leverage · twist · spin
- femme fatalesfemme fatale, seductress, temptress, vixen, enchantress
- opportunistsopportunist, exploiter, user, gold digger, fortune hunter
- schemersmanipulator, conniver, plotter, intriguer, mastermind
- character typesprotagonist, hero, antagonist, villain, heroes
- cheaterscheat, cheater, con artist, swindler, deceiver
- smooth talkerssmooth talker, smooth-talker, sweet talker, sweet-talker, fast talker
schemerstraight shooter
Forthright, blunt person
open book · straight arrow · honest broker · innocent · naif
schemerdo-gooder
Naively earnest helper
altruist · Good Samaritan · honest broker · benefactor · helper
- 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, schemed, schematic, schema, schematics, schemers, schematize