schemers
Devious plot hatchers
Schemers are people who make plans, usually cunning or underhanded ones.
The word carries a negative connotation—schemers plot for personal advantage, often at others' expense: The schemers had been working behind the scenes for months.
A neutral planner makes plans; a schemer makes schemes.
Scheming political faction
- intrigueSecret plotting or fascination
- collusionFraudulent secret cooperation
- machinationCrafty scheming, often hostile
- clandestineConcealed from authorities
treachery · sedition · betrayal · complicity · connivance · subversion · cloak-and-dagger · plot
Underhanded and calculating
- slyCleverly deceptive
- craftyCleverly deceptive
- wilySkilled at deception
- shrewdPractically clever, perceptive
guileful · artful · calculating · manipulative · conniving · underhanded · Machiavellian · sneaky
One who controls cunningly
- deceiverOne who tricks others
- conniverOne who schemes secretly
- tricksterCunning deceiver in myth
- charlatanFaker claiming false expertise
swindler · fraudster · impostor · con artist · grifter · hoaxer · hustler · cheat
Calculated deceptive tactic
- gambitRisky opening for advantage
- ruseDeliberate act of deception
- stratagemDeceptive plan for advantage
- maneuverDeliberate tactical movement
artifice · subterfuge · trick · feint · machination · contrivance · wile · dodge
cabal
Scheming political faction
- intrigueSecret plotting or fascination
- collusionFraudulent secret cooperation
- machinationCrafty scheming, often hostile
clandestine · treachery · sedition · betrayal · complicity · connivance · subversion · cloak-and-dagger · plot · coup
devious
Underhanded and calculating
shrewd · guileful · artful · calculating · manipulative · conniving · underhanded · Machiavellian · sneaky · slippery
manipulator
One who controls cunningly
charlatan · swindler · fraudster · impostor · con artist · grifter · hoaxer · hustler · cheat · faker
ploy
Calculated deceptive tactic
- gambitRisky opening for advantage
- ruseDeliberate act of deception
- stratagemDeceptive plan for advantage
maneuver · artifice · subterfuge · trick · feint · machination · contrivance · wile · dodge · expedient
- manipulatorsmanipulators, brainwashers, gaslighters, controllers, puppeteers
- leadersleader, boss, leaders, bosses, chiefs
- inner circlesinner circle, inner ring, inner sanctum, in-group, ingroup
- hustlershustler, hustlers, street hustler, con artist, grifter
schemersstraight shooters
Forthright, honest individuals
truth-tellers · straight talkers · honest brokers · open books · straight arrows
schemerssaints
Canonized religious figures
innocents · do-gooders · altruists · humanitarians · benefactors
- 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