scheming

Pluralschemings

1. 1
   adjectivederogatory

   Inclined to plot, forming underhand plans in secret.

   The novel's scheming stepmother slowly turns the family against one another.

   He was charming in public but cold and scheming behind closed doors.

   Similarconniving, calculating, devious, manipulative, cunning

   Oppositehonest, guileless, straightforward

   Note

   Calling someone scheming is an accusation, not a description: the verb can mean simply to plan, but the adjective keeps only the devious side. It compares with more and most (the most scheming of the courtiers) and works both before a noun and after be.

2. 2
   verb

   Present participle and gerund of scheme.

   The rivals had been scheming against the mayor for months.

   Scheming to win her back, he hired a band to play beneath her window.

   Note

   Scheme loses its final e before the ending, like most verbs that end in a silent e. In the progressive (they were scheming against him) it pairs with against for the target and with to plus a verb for the goal (scheming to take over the firm). The same spelling also serves as the adjective for a plotting person and the noun for plotting.

3. 3
   nouncountable or uncountable

   The act or habit of plotting in secret or by underhanded means.

   Years of political scheming finally cost the senator his seat.

   The court was full of whispered schemings and broken alliances.

   Similarplotting, intrigue, maneuvering

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