machination

American  

[mak-uh-ney-shuhn] / ˌmæk əˈneɪ ʃən /

noun

1. an act or instance of machinating.

2. Usually machinations. crafty schemes; plots; intrigues.

   Synonyms:

   device , stratagem

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machination British  

/ ˌmæʃ-, ˌmækɪˈneɪʃən /

noun

1. an intrigue, plot, or scheme

2. the act of devising plots or schemes

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Other Word Forms

• antimachination adjective

Etymology

Origin of machination

1375–1425; late Middle English machinacion < Latin māchinātiōn- (stem of māchinātiō ). See machinate, -ion

Example Sentences

The ensuing machinations would bore you to tears, but after only a year political gravity has reasserted itself.

From The Wall Street Journal

Her face is never clearly shown, to emphasize that Dorothy is merely a useful but clueless pawn in the political machinations of Oz.

From Barron's

Mr. Strong’s book dives into the political machinations behind the chess face-off in deliberate detail—Florence, born in Communist Hungary, is threatened by Walter with deportation if she doesn’t get Freddie to lose the match.

From The Wall Street Journal

Not with the glamour of a ‘Hunger Games’ spectacle, but the machinations of the state are the same.

From Los Angeles Times

This week WBD admitted the obvious: The Ellison machinations had put the company in play, which was expected sooner or later anyway.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• conspiracy
• intrigue
• ploy
• ruse
• stratagem