verb · 5 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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/kənˈspaɪə(ɹ)/
Southern-England:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
rhymes with -aɪə(ɹ)
CMU ARPABET:K AH0 N S P AY1 ER0
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
verb
Meaning 1
To secretly plot or make plans together, often with the intention to bring bad or illegal results; to collude, to connive, to plot.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: intransitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
verb
Meaning 2
To agree, to concur to one end.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: intransitive
Examples
The press, the pulpit, and the stage / Conspire to censure and expose our age.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
verb
Meaning 3
To work together to bring about.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
Examples
Rain and sweat conspired to smudge her mascara.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
verb
Meaning 4
engage in plotting or enter into a conspiracy, swear together
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
They conspired to overthrow the government
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: cabal, complot, conjure, machinate
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: plot
Narrower terms: coconspire
5
verb
Meaning 5
act in unison or agreement and in secret towards a deceitful or illegal purpose
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
The two companies conspired to cause the value of the stock to fall
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: collude
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: interact
History
Etymology
From Middle English conspiren, from Old French conspirer, from Latin conspirare, conspīrō, from con- (combining form of cum (“with”)) + spīrō (“breathe”).
Across languages
Translations
49 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Albanian:
komplotoj
— to secretly plot
Arabic:
تَآمَرَ
(taʔāmara)
— to secretly plot
Arabic:
اِئْتَمَرَ
(iʔtamara)
— to secretly plot
Asturian:
maquilar
— to secretly plot
Asturian:
guarnir
— to secretly plot
Asturian:
urdir
— to secretly plot
Bulgarian:
заговорнича
(zagovorniča)
— to secretly plot
Catalan:
conspirar
— to secretly plot
Chinese Mandarin:
勾结
(gōujié)
— to secretly plot
Danish:
sammensværge sig
— to secretly plot
Dutch:
samenzweren
— to secretly plot
Esperanto:
konspiri
— to secretly plot
Esperanto:
komploti
— to secretly plot
Finnish:
juonitella
— to secretly plot
Galician:
urdir
— to secretly plot
German:
sich verschwören
— to secretly plot
Greek:
συνωμοτώ
(synomotó)
— to secretly plot
Hungarian:
összeesküszik
— to secretly plot
Hungarian:
konspirál
— to secretly plot
Indonesian:
berkomplot
— to secretly plot
Indonesian:
bersekongkol
— to secretly plot
Japanese:
企む
(takuramu)
— to secretly plot
Kashubian:
kònspirowac
— to secretly plot
Latin:
coniūrō
— to secretly plot
Malayalam:
ഗൂഢാലോചന നടത്തുക
(gūḍhālōcana naṭattuka)
— to secretly plot
Māori:
whakatakoto kara
— to secretly plot
Māori:
kakai
— to secretly plot
Occitan:
conspirar
— to secretly plot
Polish:
spiskować
— to secretly plot
Polish:
konspirować
— to secretly plot
Polish:
kombinować
— to secretly plot
Polish:
knuć
— to secretly plot
Polish:
uknuć
— to secretly plot
Portuguese:
conspirar
— to secretly plot
Russian:
замышля́ть
(zamyšljátʹ)
— to secretly plot
Russian:
сгова́риваться
(sgovárivatʹsja)
— to secretly plot
Russian:
сговори́ться
(sgovorítʹsja)
— to secretly plot
Spanish:
conspirar
— to secretly plot
Spanish:
contlapachearse
— to secretly plot
Turkish:
komplo kurmak
— to secretly plot
Turkish:
gizlice anlaşmak
— to secretly plot
Ukrainian:
змовля́тися
(zmovljátysja)
— to secretly plot
Ukrainian:
змо́витися
(zmóvytysja)
— to secretly plot
Vietnamese:
âm mưu
— to secretly plot
Vietnamese:
mưu hại
— to secretly plot
Welsh:
cynllwynio
— to secretly plot
Spanish:
conspirar
— to try to make things go a certain way
Vietnamese:
chung sức
— to try to make things go a certain way
Vietnamese:
hiệp lực
— to try to make things go a certain way
