scheming

American  

[skee-ming] / ˈski mɪŋ /

adjective

1. given to making plans, especially sly and underhand ones; crafty.

   Synonyms:

   cunning, calculating, artful

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scheming British  

/ ˈskiːmɪŋ /

adjective

1. given to making plots; cunning

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noun

1. intrigues

Other Word Forms

• schemingly adverb
• unscheming adjective

Etymology

Origin of scheming

First recorded in 1830–40; scheme + -ing ²

Example Sentences

And while Hamlet may dither in seeking revenge for his father’s murder, we don’t hope that the scheming Claudius gets away with it.

From The Wall Street Journal

Model and system behaviors included deception, blackmail and scheming, especially when asked to shut itself down.

From The Wall Street Journal

“So now it looks like I had been kind of scheming and forcing this to happen,” Adkins said.

From The Wall Street Journal

Her 2017 debut, “Dark Blue Girl,” concerned a young girl scheming to keep her separated parents from getting back together.

From Los Angeles Times

But Aunt Kitty had other plans, and after we sat down with Mr. Pinkerton at his Philadelphia hotel, I learned what scheming she had in store.

From Literature

Related Words

• calculating
• conniving
• crafty
• duplicitous
• wily