mastermind
1 of 2noun
mas·ter·mind ˈma-stər-ˌmīnd 
ˌmas-tər-ˈ
: a person who supplies the directing or creative intelligence for a project
mastermind
2 of 2verb
masterminded; masterminding; masterminds
transitive verb
: to be the mastermind of
Synonyms
Noun
- architect
- engineer
Verb
- contrive
- engineer
- finagle
- finesse
- frame
- machinate
- maneuver
- manipulate
- negotiate
- wangle
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Noun the mastermind behind the terrorist plot the real mastermind behind the embezzlement scheme Verb They masterminded a unique solution to the problem. He masterminded the bank robbery.
Recent Examples on the Web
Joseph Goodman | Jgoodman@al.com, al, 3 Aug. 2022 Everything about Hauser's performance makes Hall seem like an unlikely criminal mastermind. Brian Lowry, CNN, 7 July 2022 The set-up: An evil mastermind has donned a Spider-Man costume before committing a robbery, so the superhero will get blamed for the crime. David Fear, Rolling Stone, 23 Dec. 2021 I’ll-beat-it-out-of-him strategic thinking and proof that, no, David Lesh is not an evil mastermind. Frederick Dreier, Outside Online, 11 Nov. 2021 In one half Sunday, Shanahan’s reputation as an offensive mastermind was exhumed. Scott Ostler, San Francisco Chronicle, 31 Oct. 2021 After getting through a condensed training camp, the electric transfer from Houston and the offensive mastermind from SMU will look to operate in unison to deliver for a program that, year after year, is eyeing a return to the glory days. David Furones, sun-sentinel.com, 7 Sep. 2020 The same can be said regarding animation, as Roye Okupe, the mastermind behind the YouNeek YouNiverse, has joined with HBO Max to bring his epic storytelling to stream in homes across the globe. Kevin L. Clark, Essence, 1 Sep. 2022 Speaking of Wes Craven, he (along with screenwriter Kevin Williamson) was the mastermind behind another all-time great horror franchise: the meta-horror world of Scream. Evan Romano, Men's Health, 30 Aug. 2022 Carl Lamarre, Billboard, 8 Sep. 2022 Protesters are demanding the withdrawal of UN forces from the central African country for failing to rein in rebel groups in the east who mastermind lethal attacks against civilians. Nimi Princewill, CNN, 4 Aug. 2022 These people helped mastermind 9-11, for god’s sake. Paul Daugherty, The Enquirer, 9 June 2022 All three firms, Medium Plenty, Terremoto, and Regan Baker Interiors, came together to mastermind this bonus entertaining space, complete with a hot tub, fire pit, and herb garden. Amanda Sims Clifford, House Beautiful, 9 June 2022 All of the other performances have been in-house productions by the symphony, which has mixed orchestral performances with stand-alone concerts by such pop-music legends as Gladys Knight and Beach Boys mastermind Brian Wilson. George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Oct. 2021 The defense memorandum goes on to relitigate the Ecuadorean pursuit of Chevron despite multiple decisions, in this country and several others, that confirm the fraud Donziger helped mastermind. Michael I. Krauss, Forbes, 26 Sep. 2021 The attraction debuted about a year after Muppets mastermind Jim Henson died and three years before Walt Disney Co. acquired the majority of the Muppets film and television library for $75 million. Dewayne Bevil, orlandosentinel.com, 25 Aug. 2021 No wonder, then, that the Tokyo 2020 Olympics has been forced to break with a number of traditions as the global pandemic forces organizers to mastermind a mega-sporting event unlikely any other. Joshua Berlinger, CNN, 22 July 2021 See More
Noun
The road trip was the mastermind of the team’s manager, Luke Lea, who was 22 years old at the time. Joseph Goodman | Jgoodman@al.com, al, 3 Aug. 2022 Everything about Hauser's performance makes Hall seem like an unlikely criminal mastermind. Brian Lowry, CNN, 7 July 2022 The set-up: An evil mastermind has donned a Spider-Man costume before committing a robbery, so the superhero will get blamed for the crime. David Fear, Rolling Stone, 23 Dec. 2021 I’ll-beat-it-out-of-him strategic thinking and proof that, no, David Lesh is not an evil mastermind. Frederick Dreier, Outside Online, 11 Nov. 2021 In one half Sunday, Shanahan’s reputation as an offensive mastermind was exhumed. Scott Ostler, San Francisco Chronicle, 31 Oct. 2021 After getting through a condensed training camp, the electric transfer from Houston and the offensive mastermind from SMU will look to operate in unison to deliver for a program that, year after year, is eyeing a return to the glory days. David Furones, sun-sentinel.com, 7 Sep. 2020 The same can be said regarding animation, as Roye Okupe, the mastermind behind the YouNeek YouNiverse, has joined with HBO Max to bring his epic storytelling to stream in homes across the globe. Kevin L. Clark, Essence, 1 Sep. 2022 Speaking of Wes Craven, he (along with screenwriter Kevin Williamson) was the mastermind behind another all-time great horror franchise: the meta-horror world of Scream. Evan Romano, Men's Health, 30 Aug. 2022 Verb
Inspired by the 1996 classic movie Set It Off, Tyga and YG mastermind a bank robbery in the clip. Carl Lamarre, Billboard, 8 Sep. 2022 Protesters are demanding the withdrawal of UN forces from the central African country for failing to rein in rebel groups in the east who mastermind lethal attacks against civilians. Nimi Princewill, CNN, 4 Aug. 2022 These people helped mastermind 9-11, for god’s sake. Paul Daugherty, The Enquirer, 9 June 2022 All three firms, Medium Plenty, Terremoto, and Regan Baker Interiors, came together to mastermind this bonus entertaining space, complete with a hot tub, fire pit, and herb garden. Amanda Sims Clifford, House Beautiful, 9 June 2022 All of the other performances have been in-house productions by the symphony, which has mixed orchestral performances with stand-alone concerts by such pop-music legends as Gladys Knight and Beach Boys mastermind Brian Wilson. George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Oct. 2021 The defense memorandum goes on to relitigate the Ecuadorean pursuit of Chevron despite multiple decisions, in this country and several others, that confirm the fraud Donziger helped mastermind. Michael I. Krauss, Forbes, 26 Sep. 2021 The attraction debuted about a year after Muppets mastermind Jim Henson died and three years before Walt Disney Co. acquired the majority of the Muppets film and television library for $75 million. Dewayne Bevil, orlandosentinel.com, 25 Aug. 2021 No wonder, then, that the Tokyo 2020 Olympics has been forced to break with a number of traditions as the global pandemic forces organizers to mastermind a mega-sporting event unlikely any other. Joshua Berlinger, CNN, 22 July 2021 See More Word History
First Known Use
Noun
1872, in the meaning defined above
Verb
1927, in the meaning defined above
mastermind 1 of 2
noun
as in architect
a person who designs and guides a plan or undertaking the real mastermind behind the embezzlement scheme Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- architect
- engineer
- leader
- organizer
- designer
- originator
- maker
- manager
- pioneer
- builder
- schemer
- producer
- developer
- director
- commander
- inaugurator
- contriver
- handler
- inspirer
- plotter
- planner
- initiator
- arranger
- formulator
- captain
- generator
- quarterback
- hatcher
- maneuverer
- spawner
- instituter
- institutor
- machinator
- finagler
mastermind
2 of 2verb
as in to engineer
to plan out usually with subtle skill or care he was charged with masterminding a plan to redecorate the suite of offices without seriously disrupting business operations Synonyms & Similar Words
- engineer
- plot
- negotiate
- manipulate
- arrange
- maneuver
- contrive
- machinate
- scheme
- finesse
- frame
- conclude
- intrigue
- manage
- concert
- work out
- wangle
- connive
- captain
- finagle
- hammer out
- direct
- hatch
- concoct
- conduct
- compass
- brew
- command
- handle
- quarterback
- angle (for)
- run
- cook (up)
- gerrymander
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- butcher
- gum (up)
- bungle
- botch
- mess (up)
- blow
- fumble
- muff
- flub
- louse up
- mangle
- mishandle
- bobble