conspiratorial

Sometimes con·spir·a·to·ry

[kuhn-spir-uh-tawr-ee-uhl]

adjective

1. relating to or being a conspiracy, a secretive plan that is unlawful, harmful, or evil.

   They believe these rulings to be the result of a conspiratorial plot cooked up by big business interests.

2. suggesting or giving the impression of such a plan.

   The memory I have of that night is of wicked giggles and conspiratorial whispering about Tim with my best friend Gillian.

Other Word Forms

• conspiratorially adverb
• nonconspiratorial adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of conspiratorial¹

conspiratory + -al ¹

Example Sentences

He speaks with the same measured warmth as ever — that deep, lilting rumble that can shift from conspiratorial murmur to amused growl in a heartbeat — but he sometimes loses a name mid-thought.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Though they’re written through a conspiratorial lens, Teddy’s exhaustion and paranoia feel grounded in reality.

Read more on Salon

“I may sound conspiratorial, but I don’t think it is a coincidence,” he said.

Read more on Salon

“Streamers have become increasingly visible and relevant in anti-democracy and bigoted networks. They film live or online events and interactions and post video content that is often full of disinformation or conspiratorial narratives,” Yates said.

Read more on Salon

He has, however, attracted criticism for promoting controversial and at times conspiratorial beliefs.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• classified 
• covert 
• furtive 
• hush-hush 
• mysterious 
• obscure 
• private 
• secluded 
• undercover 
• underground 
• undisclosed 
• unknown 
• unpublished