Synonyms of masterminds

masterminds 1 of 2

noun

plural of mastermind

as in architects

a person who designs and guides a plan or undertaking

the real mastermind behind the embezzlement scheme

Synonyms & Similar Words

• architects
• engineers
• leaders
• organizers
• designers
• originators
• makers
• builders
• pioneers
• managers
• developers
• producers
• commanders
• directors
• schemers
• handlers
• plotters
• inaugurators
• initiators
• planners
• formulators
• quarterbacks
• contrivers
• generators
• arrangers
• captains
• inspirers
• spawners
• hatchers
• instituters
• maneuverers
• machinators
• finaglers

masterminds

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of mastermind

as in engineers

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

• engineers
• plots
• negotiates
• maneuvers
• manipulates
• arranges
• contrives
• manages
• schemes
• concludes
• frames
• finesses
• wangles
• intrigues
• machinates
• finagles
• works out
• concerts
• concocts
• hatches
• connives
• hammers out
• angles (for)
• brews
• conducts
• directs
• cooks (up)
• captains
• compasses
• handles
• commands
• quarterbacks
• runs
• gerrymanders

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• butchers
• messes (up)
• fumbles
• bungles
• blows
• botches
• flubs
• gums (up)
• bobbles
• mishandles
• muffs
• mangles
• louses up

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of masterminds

Noun

The masterminds behind the Monster anthology were keen on Paulson’s appearance as Wuornos. — Marina Watts, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Sep. 2026

Prosecutors alleged the four men were among the masterminds behind the plot to kill the Haitian president. — CBS News, 20 Sep. 2026

One such comedic element comes into play during the heist itself, as two bank employees (David Arquette and Christine Taylor) struggle to make sense of the masterminds’ overcomplicated pre-written instructions. — Glenn Garner, Deadline, 14 Sep. 2026

Prosecutors alleged that Donna was one of the masterminds behind Markel’s murder, helping to fund the contract killing, which was estimated to cost even more than $100,000, according to court documents obtained by CNN. — Jordana Comiter, PEOPLE, 4 Sep. 2026

Among them is wartime Prime Minister Hideki Tojo, one of the masterminds behind the attack on Pearl Harbor. — ABC News, 14 Aug. 2026

Authorities were seeking both the assassins and masterminds of the crime, according to the president. — Los Angeles Times, 5 Aug. 2026

Peer groups, masterminds, advisory relationships built around honest reporting—these create a form of social commitment that internal motivation alone does not sustain. — Skye Blanks, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026

Both Flores and new Dolphins coach Jeff Hafley are defensive masterminds, so hopefully this will be a quite the chess match. — Miami Herald, 16 July 2026

Verb

Those meetings included Bolton, Galliano and Anna Wintour, the Vogue editor who masterminds the Met Gala every year. — ABC News, 31 July 2026

The same studio that produced the Godzilla franchise, Toho, masterminds one of the most horrifying and disturbingly humorous psychedelic films to date. — Steven Thrash, Entertainment Weekly, 25 Oct. 2025