Standard Lemma guide

scheming

adj · noun · 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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  • CMU ARPABET: S K IY1 M IH0 NG Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

adj

Meaning 1

Tending to scheme; forming underhand plots.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: derogatory

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

The activity or practice of making secret or underhanded plans.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

present participle and gerund of scheme

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: form-of, gerund, participle, present

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

adjective satellite

Meaning 4

concealing crafty designs for advancing your own interest- W.Churchill

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • a selfish and designing nation obsessed with the dark schemes of European intrigue
  • a scheming wife
  • a scheming gold digger

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: designing

Antonyms: none provided

5

adjective satellite

Meaning 5

used of persons

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • the most calculating and selfish men in the community

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: calculating, calculative, conniving, shrewd

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Etymology tree English scheme Proto-Indo-European *-onts Proto-Germanic *-ndz Proto-West Germanic *-andī Old English -ende Middle English -ynge English -ing English scheming From scheme + -ing.

Etymology tree English scheme Proto-Germanic *-ungō Old English -ung Middle English -ynge English -ing English scheming From scheme + -ing.

Across languages

Translations

16 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Armenian: խարդախ (xardax) — tending to scheme
  • Catalan: intrigant — tending to scheme
  • French: intrigant — tending to scheme
  • Galician: intrigante — tending to scheme
  • Galician: cizañeiro — tending to scheme
  • Galician: cizañento — tending to scheme
  • Galician: compangueiro — tending to scheme
  • German: intrigant — tending to scheme
  • Gothic: 𐌱𐌹𐍂𐌿𐌽𐌰𐌹𐌽𐍃 (birunains) — tending to scheme
  • Greek: υστερόβουλος (ysteróvoulos) — tending to scheme
  • Irish: beartach — tending to scheme
  • Italian: calcolatore — tending to scheme
  • Portuguese: intrigante — tending to scheme
  • Spanish: intrigante — tending to scheme
  • Spanish: trapisondista — tending to scheme
  • Swedish: beräknande — tending to scheme