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
Emily Mae Czachor, CBS News, 17 Apr. 2024
And, because the underlying product isn't profitable, most of the scheme’s participants lose their money.
—Tom Daykin, Journal Sentinel, 17 Apr. 2024
By laundering the cryptocurrency proceeds, Parks was able to disguise the audit trail and disassociate the funds from the scheme, according to prosecutors.
—USA TODAY, 16 Apr. 2024
On Sunday, the East Bay Times printed a letter to the editor that argued, in essence, that Donald Trump should not be prosecuted for real estate fraud because the lender was complicit in the scheme.
—Letters To The Editor, The Mercury News, 16 Apr. 2024
Netflix is wise to this scheme, however, and actively works to block users who connect via VPN.
—PCMAG, 15 Apr. 2024
Biden is alleged to have participated in a four-year scheme to avoid paying $1.4 million in taxes while living an extravagant lifestyle.
—Louis Casiano, Fox News, 12 Apr. 2024
And once George schemes his way into the monarch’s bedroom, King James ends up in some rather compromising positions.
—Judy Berman, TIME, 5 Apr. 2024
When, months later, the blue checks granted under Twitter’s previous verification scheme finally disappeared, the platform faced frustration and ridicule from some of its most prominent users, including Stephen King and LeBron James.
—Clare Duffy, CNN, 4 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
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
And, because the underlying product isn't profitable, most of the scheme’s participants lose their money.
—Tom Daykin, Journal Sentinel, 17 Apr. 2024
By laundering the cryptocurrency proceeds, Parks was able to disguise the audit trail and disassociate the funds from the scheme, according to prosecutors.
—USA TODAY, 16 Apr. 2024
On Sunday, the East Bay Times printed a letter to the editor that argued, in essence, that Donald Trump should not be prosecuted for real estate fraud because the lender was complicit in the scheme.
—Letters To The Editor, The Mercury News, 16 Apr. 2024
Netflix is wise to this scheme, however, and actively works to block users who connect via VPN.
—PCMAG, 15 Apr. 2024
Biden is alleged to have participated in a four-year scheme to avoid paying $1.4 million in taxes while living an extravagant lifestyle.
—Louis Casiano, Fox News, 12 Apr. 2024
And once George schemes his way into the monarch’s bedroom, King James ends up in some rather compromising positions.
—Judy Berman, TIME, 5 Apr. 2024
When, months later, the blue checks granted under Twitter’s previous verification scheme finally disappeared, the platform faced frustration and ridicule from some of its most prominent users, including Stephen King and LeBron James.
—Clare Duffy, CNN, 4 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 24 Apr. 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
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