conspire

[ kuhn-spahyuhr ]

verb (used without object)

conspired, conspiring.

1. to agree together, especially secretly, to do something wrong, evil, or illegal:

   They conspired to kill the king.

   Synonyms: intrigue, complot

2. to act or work together toward the same result or goal:

   The wind and rain conspired to strip the trees of their fall color.

   Synonyms: cooperate, concur, combine

verb (used with object)

conspired, conspiring.

1. to plot (something wrong, evil, or illegal).

conspire

/ kənˈspaɪə /

verb

1. to plan or agree on (a crime or harmful act) together in secret
2. intr to act together towards some end as if by design

   the elements conspired to spoil our picnic

Derived Forms

• conˈspiringly, adverb
• conˈspirer, noun

Other Word Forms

• con·spir·er noun
• con·spir·ing·ly adverb
• non·con·spir·ing adjective
• pre·con·spire verb preconspired preconspiring
• un·con·spired adjective
• un·con·spir·ing adjective
• un·con·spir·ing·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of conspire¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Middle French conspirer, from Latin conspīrāre “to act in harmony, conspire,” equivalent to con- + spīrāre “to breathe”; con-, spirant, spirit

Word History and Origins

Origin of conspire¹

C14: from Old French conspirer, from Latin conspīrāre to plot together, literally: to breathe together, from spīrāre to breathe

Synonym Study

See plot.

Example Sentences

Meiser was already facing charges in Los Angeles County Superior Court that he conspired with gang members to distribute heroin within the North County Correctional Facility in Castaic.

From Los Angeles Times

He was also sentenced to an additional four years behind bars for conspiring to sell or transfer guns.

From BBC

Then aged 55, Steele was found guilty of murder and conspiring to import drugs into the UK.

From BBC

Justine had never met Brad, but Wall accused her of conspiring with him to poison her cat.

From BBC

The two women worked alongside the six Bulgarians who were convicted of conspiring to spy for Russia.

From BBC

Related Words

• collude
• connive
• cooperate