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

“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.

From Salon

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

From BBC

She tipped the meat around the pan until it caught just enough color, then turned to the camera with a conspiratorial grin.

From Salon

The result captures the anxious, conspiratorial spirit of 2025 with eerie precision, proving once again that Plemons doesn’t need to raise his voice to deliver a performance that speaks volumes.

From Los Angeles Times

It’s not conspiratorial to suggest it’s what they might actually want.

From Salon

Related Words

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• unpublished