conspire

[ kuhn-spahyuhr ]

verb (used without object)

, con·spired, con·spir·ing.

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)

, con·spired, con·spir·ing.

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 Words From

• 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

Talbot conducted multiple searches of GMP's confidential computer systems for known or suspected drug dealers, which led him to conspire to sell the drugs with dealer Keith Bretherton, 50.

From BBC

We're always looking for a way to conspire to come back, maybe it's work or some other way.

From BBC

Circumstances — “the confluence of Labor Day and the kids being back in school” — could conspire to push transmission rates higher, Hudson said.

From Los Angeles Times

Constitution and all state constitutions protect voting rights and the due process of voters, and federal law makes it a crime to conspire to deprive individuals of their votes, among other protections.

From Slate

X is seeking unspecified damages and a court order against any continued efforts to conspire to withhold advertising spending.

From BBC

Related Words

• collude
• connive
• cooperate