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scheme

1 of 2

noun

ˈskēm

Synonyms ofscheme next

:a plan or program of action

especially:a crafty or secret one

:a systematic or organized configuration:design

colorscheme

:a concise statement or table:epitome

:a graphic sketch or outline

barchaic

(1)

:a mathematical or astronomical diagram

(2)

:a representation of the astrological aspects of the planets at a particular time

scheme

2 of 2

verb

schemed;scheming

intransitive verb

:to form plans

also:plot,intrigue

transitive verb

:to form a scheme for

schemernoun

Synonyms

Noun

Verb

See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

Choose the Right Synonym forscheme

plan,design,plot,scheme,project mean a method devised for making or doing something or achieving an end.

plan always implies mental formulation and sometimes graphic representation.

plans for a house

design often suggests a particular pattern and some degree of achieved order or harmony.

adesign for a new dress

plot implies a laying out in clearly distinguished sections with attention to their relations and proportions.

theplot of the play

scheme stresses calculation of the end in view and may apply to a plan motivated by craftiness and self-interest.

ascheme to defraud the government

project often stresses imaginative scope and vision.

aproject to develop the waterfront

Examples ofscheme in a Sentence

Noun ascheme to cheat people out of their money The company has a newscheme for insurance coverage. ascheme to improve the economy the colorscheme of a roomVerb He felt that the other men werescheming against him. He was betrayed by ascheming friend.

Recent Examples on the Web

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage.Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.Send us feedback.

Noun

Detectives arrested a man accused in a lottery ticket stealingschemethat netted him and a partner thousands of dollars in winnings, according to the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office.—

David Goodhue,Miami Herald, 7 Apr. 2025His chief adviser was also charged in state court with taking part in a separate briberyscheme.—

Jan Ransom,New York Times, 6 Apr. 2025

Verb

Robert Trebor, who portrayed the serial killer known as the Son of Sam in a CBS telefilm and theschemingmerchant Salmoneus on Hercules: The Legendary Journeys and its sister series, Xena: Warrior Princess, has died.—

Mike Barnes,HollywoodReporter, 4 Apr. 2025Between the godmothers’ grief and a less-than-adequate police department, Lila will have to seek justice on her own terms and figure out whichscheminggodmother the vendetta was meant for.—

Clare Mulroy,USA Today, 2 Apr. 2025See All Example Sentences forscheme

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Latinschemat-, schema arrangement, figure, from Greekschēmat-, schēma, fromechein to have, hold, be in (such) a condition; akin to Old Englishsige victory, Sanskritsahate he prevails

First Known Use

Noun

circa 1595, in the meaning defined atsense 4b(1)

Verb

1749, in the meaning defined attransitive sense

Time Traveler

The first known use ofscheme was circa 1595

See more words from the same year