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to mastermind

to mastermind

22 7.4
To plan and direct a secret, difficult activity that is often illegal
  • verb
  • /ˈmæstərˌmaɪnd/
translation icon : orquestar
  • We're trying to mastermind a heist.
  • masterminding the attack

He was, he was supposedly masterminding a nationwide string of bank robberies.

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Examples

  • The ship was the Wanderer; Charles Lamar, a well-known member of Savannah society, masterminded the expedition.

    Academic text (2009)
  • Iran was accused of harboring terrorists, of developing nuclear weapons, and of masterminding attacks on American facilities in other countries.

    Academic text (2003)
  • Yeah, she totally masterminded it.

  • The No on 37 people are paying an attorney named Thomas Hiltachk to mastermind their campaign.

    Blog text (11)
  • It is assumed that he masterminded the attack from a hideout some distance from the capital.

  • Zazi has since admitted to masterminding a foiled terror attack on the New York City subway system.

    Blog text (2)
  • In 1973, on behalf of the Nixon administration, Secretary of State Henry Kissinger masterminded an emergency U.S. airlift of weapons to Israel to reverse the momentum of the Egyptian-Syrian Yom Kippur offensive.

    Academic text (2011)
  • The criminal organization wanted him to mastermind their next illegal operation.

  • She is known to mastermind intricate plans for the company, often in secret.

  • He was brought in to mastermind the scheme to take down the rival corporation.

Synonyms

to organize
vsto mastermind
  • US
662 1.6

Arrange people, things, and activities so they work well

plans and leads difficult complex projects rather than routine orderly tasks
to direct
vsto mastermind
617 3.7

To lead people in a performance or project

plans and leads secret or illegal operations rather than general guidance
to engineer
vsto mastermind
149 4.1

To plan or arrange something carefully using skill

plans and leads complex operations rather than focusing on technical design
to plot
vsto mastermind
120 4.8

To make a secret plan to do something illegal

also leads the whole complex operation rather than only planning
to orchestrate
vsto mastermind
101 7.1

To organize and direct the parts of a large plan or event

plans and leads complex schemes secretly and often illegally

Antonyms

63 6.0

To do something badly and spoil the result

17 4.8

To run something badly so it fails or causes problems

Compounds

A person who plans and organizes complex activities from behind the scenes

How Strategic

to mastermind
22 7.4
to direct
617 3.7
to coordinate
325 4.1
to organize
  • US
662 1.6

Surface Forms

mastermind infinitive
masterminded past participle
masterminding present participle
masterminds third person singular

Etymology

Mastermind comes from the same parts, master ('expert') and mind ('thinking'), so to mastermind something is to act as the expert thinker who plans and directs a complex project, often one that is secret or illegal.