1
: a plan or program of action
especially
: a crafty or secret one
2
: a systematic or organized configuration : design
color scheme
3
: a concise statement or table : epitome
4
a
: a graphic sketch or outline
b
archaic
(1)
: a mathematical or astronomical diagram
(2)
: a representation of the astrological aspects of the planets at a particular time
schemed; scheming
: to form a scheme for
schemer
noun
Synonyms
Examples of scheme in a Sentence
Noun
a scheme to cheat people out of their money
The company has a new scheme for insurance coverage.
a scheme to improve the economy
the color scheme of a room
Verb
He felt that the other men were scheming against him.
He was betrayed by a scheming friend.
Recent Examples on the Web
Nora Gámez Torres, Miami Herald, 29 Apr. 2024
The Guatemalan authorities last year arrested Ana Gabriela Rubio Zea, an entrepreneur known for flaunting her wealth on social media, in connection to a scheme to import chemicals from China to manufacture fentanyl for Mexico’s Sinaloa Cartel.
—Simon Romero Daniele Volpe, New York Times, 28 Apr. 2024
Cronenberg stages it with a fearless matter-of-factness, with telling nods to issues of corporate surveillance and the evils of private contracting, and with a vivid eye for the schemes and secrets hidden in the Victorian nooks and crannies of that house.
—Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 27 Apr. 2024
Take the musician Sting, who was notified by an anonymous tip that his former accountant, Keith Moore, had stolen more than $9 million from the British rock star over four years in order to invest in global schemes and stave off personal bankruptcy.
—Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 25 Apr. 2024
His former lawyer Michael Cohen has already pleaded guilty and gone to prison after confessing to the scheme involving a hundred-and-thirty-thousand-dollar payoff to the former adult-film star Stormy Daniels, among other wrongdoing.
—Susan B. Glasser, The New Yorker, 25 Apr. 2024
Also charged were seven Trump allies and lawyers who are accused of aiding in the scheme, several of whom are facing prosecution in other states that already have brought similar cases.
—Stacey Barchenger, The Arizona Republic, 24 Apr. 2024
Insurance proceeds from the drug testing scheme comprised roughly three-quarters of the clinic’s revenue.
—Quinlan Bentley, The Enquirer, 24 Apr. 2024
Gold Star families lost over $3.7 million during the scheme, while Craffy received more than $1.4 million in commissions taken out of their accounts.
—Emily Mae Czachor, CBS News, 17 Apr. 2024
David G. Savage, Los Angeles Times, 16 Apr. 2024
Bev is determined to live up to the family’s legacy, whatever that means, and has an antagonistic relationship with Delphine (Tisha Campbell), the projects’ scheming president.
—Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 12 Apr. 2024
George’s scheming mother, Mary (Julianne Moore), plots his ascendancy, as George seduces the king and navigates the tangled web of the Stuart court.
—Ew Staff Published, EW.com, 5 Apr. 2024
The Indictment: Federal prosecutors said that Trump put national security secrets at risk by mishandling classified documents and schemed to block the government from reclaiming the material.
—Alan Feuer, New York Times, 3 Apr. 2024
On one side are a scheming tycoon and his team of regulation plug-uglies.
—Justin Chang, The New Yorker, 21 Mar. 2024
In writer-director Denis Villeneuve’s sequel to 2021’s hit Dune, in theaters now, Walken plays the Padishah Emperor Shaddam IV, who schemes to quash the royal house of Chalamet’s Paul Atreides.
—Jack Smart, Peoplemag, 1 Mar. 2024
But Mary and George Villiers would soon scheme to supplant Carr in the king’s esteem.
—Meilan Solly, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 Apr. 2024
Hill was indicted last week and charged with three counts of exploitation of the elderly, two counts of fraudulent use of personal identification, one count of mortgage fraud and one count of scheming to defraud over $50,000.
—Jonathan Limehouse, USA TODAY, 3 Apr. 2024
Noun
The videos referred to several other schemes involving other officials in the province’s local government and the military.
—Nora Gámez Torres, Miami Herald, 29 Apr. 2024
The Guatemalan authorities last year arrested Ana Gabriela Rubio Zea, an entrepreneur known for flaunting her wealth on social media, in connection to a scheme to import chemicals from China to manufacture fentanyl for Mexico’s Sinaloa Cartel.
—Simon Romero Daniele Volpe, New York Times, 28 Apr. 2024
Cronenberg stages it with a fearless matter-of-factness, with telling nods to issues of corporate surveillance and the evils of private contracting, and with a vivid eye for the schemes and secrets hidden in the Victorian nooks and crannies of that house.
—Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 27 Apr. 2024
Take the musician Sting, who was notified by an anonymous tip that his former accountant, Keith Moore, had stolen more than $9 million from the British rock star over four years in order to invest in global schemes and stave off personal bankruptcy.
—Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 25 Apr. 2024
His former lawyer Michael Cohen has already pleaded guilty and gone to prison after confessing to the scheme involving a hundred-and-thirty-thousand-dollar payoff to the former adult-film star Stormy Daniels, among other wrongdoing.
—Susan B. Glasser, The New Yorker, 25 Apr. 2024
Also charged were seven Trump allies and lawyers who are accused of aiding in the scheme, several of whom are facing prosecution in other states that already have brought similar cases.
—Stacey Barchenger, The Arizona Republic, 24 Apr. 2024
Insurance proceeds from the drug testing scheme comprised roughly three-quarters of the clinic’s revenue.
—Quinlan Bentley, The Enquirer, 24 Apr. 2024
Gold Star families lost over $3.7 million during the scheme, while Craffy received more than $1.4 million in commissions taken out of their accounts.
—Emily Mae Czachor, CBS News, 17 Apr. 2024
Verb
Special counsel Jack Smith, however, has said the charges against Trump rest on stronger grounds because Trump allegedly schemed to submit false slates of electors to Congress.
—David G. Savage, Los Angeles Times, 16 Apr. 2024
Bev is determined to live up to the family’s legacy, whatever that means, and has an antagonistic relationship with Delphine (Tisha Campbell), the projects’ scheming president.
—Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 12 Apr. 2024
George’s scheming mother, Mary (Julianne Moore), plots his ascendancy, as George seduces the king and navigates the tangled web of the Stuart court.
—Ew Staff Published, EW.com, 5 Apr. 2024
The Indictment: Federal prosecutors said that Trump put national security secrets at risk by mishandling classified documents and schemed to block the government from reclaiming the material.
—Alan Feuer, New York Times, 3 Apr. 2024
On one side are a scheming tycoon and his team of regulation plug-uglies.
—Justin Chang, The New Yorker, 21 Mar. 2024
In writer-director Denis Villeneuve’s sequel to 2021’s hit Dune, in theaters now, Walken plays the Padishah Emperor Shaddam IV, who schemes to quash the royal house of Chalamet’s Paul Atreides.
—Jack Smart, Peoplemag, 1 Mar. 2024
But Mary and George Villiers would soon scheme to supplant Carr in the king’s esteem.
—Meilan Solly, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 Apr. 2024
Hill was indicted last week and charged with three counts of exploitation of the elderly, two counts of fraudulent use of personal identification, one count of mortgage fraud and one count of scheming to defraud over $50,000.
—Jonathan Limehouse, USA TODAY, 3 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'scheme.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Articles Related to scheme
Dictionary Entries Near scheme
Cite this Entry
“Scheme.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/scheme. Accessed 2 May. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
scheme
1 of 2 noun1
: a pictorial sketch or outline
2
: a brief statement in an outline, table, or list
3
: a plan or program of action
a new scheme for better insurance coverage
especially
: a sly or secret one
a scheme to seize control of the territory
4
: a regular or organized design, arrangement, or pattern
the color scheme of a room
your whole scheme of life
scheme
2 of 2 verb
schemed; scheming
1
: to form a scheme for
2
: to form plans
especially
: to engage in a plot
schemer
noun
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share