conspire Hear it!

conspire Definition

con·spire (kən spīr′)

intransitive verb -·spired′, -·spir′·ing

  1. to plan and act together secretly, esp. in order to commit a crime
  2. to combine or work together for any purpose or effect events conspired to ruin him

Etymology: ME conspiren < OFr conspirer < L conspirare, to breathe together, agree, unite < com-, together + spirare, to breathe: see spirit

transitive verb

Rare to plan or plot

conspire Synonyms

conspire

v.

  1. To plan secretly

    plot, scheme, contrive, intrigue; see plan 1.

  2. To act together

    join, collude, combine, concur; see cooperate 1, unite 1.

conspire Usage Examples

Preposition: with

  • other: She also pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiring with others to facilitate illegal entry into the UK.
  • man: Hermia arrives and Helena accuses her of conspiring with the men to tease her.
  • government: DOGGETT: She said they conspired with the Government.

Preposition: against

  • people: What we do know is that the political class of Europe is conspiring against the peoples of Europe.
  • life: Unwelcome change But another great love affair conspired against a quiet life for the Yorks.
  • government: Thomas Harrison arrested, but released on giving an assurance to Cromwell that he has no intention of conspiring against the government.

Infinitive complement

  • defraud: Two directors who conspired to defraud investors in an ostrich breeding scheme, pleaded guilty earlier in the trial.
  • assassinate: Pitman attended the trial of the men charged with conspiring to assassinate Abraham Lincoln.
  • thwart: However, in an exercise of this sort, circumstances may conspire to thwart the original intention.
  • rob: The prosecution said three conspired to rob Mr Sheridan of £ 4,000, which were hidden in the shop.
  • commit: Selwyn admitted to conspiring to commit wilful damage over the ax incident.
  • conceal: It's more a case of circumstances conspiring to conceal the truth.

Modifying Another Word

  • secretly: That meant of necessity secretly conspiring against the Romans.
  • allegedly: He was allegedly conspiring to commit a murder, why should he care?
  • together: A whole sequence of events conspired together to bring us into a living relationship with Jesus.
  • all: But they all conspired to induce me into writing.
  • always: For some reason this year, we have the knack of hitting the woodwork: Why do the gods always conspire against us?
  • then: All the services, in a sense, then conspire for HIV to become the primary focus for the person.

Preposition: in

  • myth: There was a sense in which Power conspired in this myth of the female scholar.