machination

[ mak-uh-ney-shuhn ]

noun

1. an act or instance of machinating.
2. Usually machinations. crafty schemes; plots; intrigues.

   Synonyms: device, stratagem

machination

/ ˌmæʃ-; ˌmækɪˈneɪʃən /

noun

1. an intrigue, plot, or scheme
2. the act of devising plots or schemes

Other Words From

• anti·machi·nation adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of machination¹

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

Example Sentences

As Dax tries to get back to his normal life, a past trauma threatens to upend more for him than MI6’s machinations.

From Los Angeles Times

Tula, the more sensitive sister, reckons the human cost of their multiple machinations.

From Los Angeles Times

While the geopolitical machinations rumble on, the underling success of Georgia’s second-hand car industry can be explained by its geography.

From BBC

These machinations include but are not limited to, trying to steal, suppress, discount, and refuse votes, as well as potentially encouraging armed resistance to congressional certification of the election.

From Salon

Strong: Of course, political machinations are part of what the film explores and examines.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• conspiracy
• intrigue
• ploy
• ruse
• stratagem