conspire

[kuhn-spahyuhr]

verb (used without object)

conspired, conspiring 

1. to agree together, especially secretly, to do something wrong, evil, or illegal.

   They conspired to kill the king.

   Synonyms: intrigue, complot

2. to act or work together toward the same result or goal.

   The wind and rain conspired to strip the trees of their fall color.

   Synonyms: cooperate, concur, combine

verb (used with object)

conspired, conspiring 

1. to plot (something wrong, evil, or illegal).

conspire

/ kənˈspaɪə /

verb

1. to plan or agree on (a crime or harmful act) together in secret

2. (intr) to act together towards some end as if by design

   the elements conspired to spoil our picnic

Other Word Forms

• conspirer noun
• conspiringly adverb
• nonconspiring adjective
• preconspire verb
• unconspired adjective
• unconspiring adjective
• unconspiringly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of conspire¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Middle French conspirer, from Latin conspīrāre “to act in harmony, conspire,” equivalent to con- + spīrāre “to breathe”; con-, spirant, spirit

Word History and Origins

Origin of conspire¹

C14: from Old French conspirer, from Latin conspīrāre to plot together, literally: to breathe together, from spīrāre to breathe

Synonym Study

See plot.

Example Sentences

Lou is charged with two counts: conspiring to defraud the U.S. and making contributions in the names of others.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

He has filed his own a lawsuit against the city of Los Angeles and former Police Chief Michel Moore, alleging Moore conspired to oust a rival for the chief’s job.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Northamptonshire Police said both men have also been charged with one count of conspiring to steal motor vehicles.

Read more on BBC

The men, both Afghan nationals in their 30s, were charged with conspiring to receive stolen goods and conspiring to conceal or remove criminal property.

Read more on BBC

King pleaded guilty in August to conspiring to bring, throw, and or convey List A and List B prohibited articles into or out of prison, and conspiring to acquire, use or possess criminal property.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• collude 
• connive 
• cooperate 

When To Use

What does conspire mean?

Conspire commonly means to secretly plan with multiple other people to do something wrong, evil, or illegal.Such a plan is called a conspiracy. Conspiracy can also refer to the act of making such plans—the act of conspiring—or to the group making the plans. The people involved can be called conspirators.In a legal context, conspiracy refers to an agreement by two or more people conspiring to commit a crime.Conspire can also mean to act together to achieve some result. This use often likens inanimate objects to people engaging in a conspiracy, as in I was on time until the traffic and the weather conspired to make me late. Example: In the movie, supervillains conspire to steal all of the world’s bananas.