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View synonyms for conspiracy

conspiracy

[ kuhn-spir-uh-see ]

noun

, plural con·spir·a·cies.
  1. the act of conspiring.

    Synonyms: sedition, collusion

  2. an unlawful, harmful, or evil plan formulated in secret by two or more persons; plot.
  3. a combination of persons for such an unlawful, harmful, or evil purpose:

    He joined the conspiracy to overthrow the government.

  4. Law. an agreement by two or more persons to commit a crime, fraud, or other wrongful act.
  5. any concurrence in action; combination in bringing about a given result.


conspiracy

/ kənˈspɪrəsɪ; kənˌspɪrəˈtɔːrɪəl /

noun

  1. a secret plan or agreement to carry out an illegal or harmful act, esp with political motivation; plot
  2. the act of making such plans in secret


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Derived Forms

  • conˌspiraˈtorially, adverb
  • conˈspirator, noun
  • conspiratorial, adjective

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Other Words From

  • con·spir·a·tive adjective
  • con·spir·a·to·ri·al [k, uh, n-spir-, uh, -, tawr, -ee-, uh, l], con·spir·a·to·ry adjective
  • pre·con·spir·a·cy noun plural preconspiracies

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Word History and Origins

Origin of conspiracy1

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English conspiracie, probably from Anglo-French; conspire, -acy; replacing Middle English conspiracioun; conspiration

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Synonym Study

Conspiracy, plot, intrigue, cabal all refer to surreptitious or covert schemes to accomplish some end, most often an evil one. A conspiracy usually involves a group entering into a secret agreement to achieve some illicit or harmful objective: a vicious conspiracy to control prices. A plot is a carefully planned secret scheme, usually by a small number of persons, to secure sinister ends: a plot to seize control of a company. An intrigue usually involves duplicity and deceit aimed at achieving either personal advantage or criminal or treasonous objectives: the petty intrigues of civil servants. Cabal refers either to a plan by a small group of highly-placed persons to overthrow or control a government, or to the group of persons themselves: a cabal of powerful lawmakers.

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Example Sentences

But at the heart of this “Truther” conspiracy theory is the idea that “someone” wants to destroy Bill Cosby.

Cosby conspiracy theorists share a perspective born of a long, pained history of American racism.

But those strands of his identity are all wound around the conspiracy that led him back to Gambia for the first time in 23 years.

That plane still has not been found, sparking much speculation and many conspiracy theories.

But his motives for shooting John Paul II have remained a mystery shrouded in multiple conspiracy theories.

All over the world the just claims of organized labor are intermingled with the underground conspiracy of social revolution.

He sympathized with that movement which, during his childhood, culminated in the Cavite Conspiracy (vide p. 106).

But when you are there, the awful secret of conspiracy will not be revealed in caverns, dungeons, and darkness.

Scarcely a year passed in which his name was not connected with some conspiracy to overthrow the First Consul.

The law still branded as conspiracy any united attempt of workingmen to raise wages or to shorten the hours of work.

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conspiracistconspiracy of silence