Machiavellian

American

[mak-ee-uh-vel-ee-uhn] / ˌmæk i əˈvɛl i ən /

Sometimes Machiavelian

adjective

of, like, or befitting Machiavelli.
being or acting in accordance with the principles of government analyzed in Machiavelli's The Prince, in which political expediency is placed above morality and the use of craft and deceit to maintain the authority and carry out the policies of a ruler is described.
characterized by subtle or unscrupulous cunning, deception, expediency, or dishonesty.

He resorted to Machiavellian tactics in order to get ahead.

noun

a follower of the principles analyzed or described in The Prince, especially with reference to techniques of political manipulation.

Machiavellian British

/ ˌmækɪəˈvɛlɪən /

adjective

of or relating to the alleged political principles of Machiavelli; cunning, amoral, and opportunist

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

noun

a cunning, amoral, and opportunist person, esp a politician

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Machiavelianism noun
Machiavelianly adverb
Machiavellianism noun
Machiavellianly adverb
Machiavellist adjective

Etymology

Origin of Machiavellian

First recorded in 1560–70; Machiavelli + -an

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

He has only given you that $1,000 as an opening gambit, and now he wants something from you, but he is too Machiavellian to ask for it outright.

From MarketWatch • Feb. 25, 2026

Rodríguez, a 56-year-old lawyer by training, has been described by former colleagues and U.S. officials as a ruthlessly ambitious and Machiavellian political operative.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 4, 2026

But when he breaks down his thought process, there is less Machiavellian evil and more faulty perceptions and problems with impulse control.

From Slate • Jul. 23, 2025

Except from behind the windshield, where he views the world as teeming with schemers and brutes, acting on all manner of Machiavellian impulses.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 1, 2025

Julie’s Bloody Machiavellian Intelligence Officer has been sent for so he can interview me.

From "Code Name Verity" by Elizabeth Wein

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023