machination Hear it!

machination Definition

machi·na·tion (mak′ə nā′s̸hən, mas̸h′-)

noun

  1. Rare the act of machinating
  2. an artful or secret plot or scheme, esp. one with evil intent: usually used in pl.

Etymology: ME machinacion < L machinatio

machination Synonyms

machination

n.

scheme, plot, ruse, maneuver; see intrigue 1, plot 1, trick 1. See syn. study at plot.

machination Usage Examples

Preposition: of

  • government: British workers and democratic people must oppose and reject these machinations of the British government.
  • industry: Can the X-Factor winner now be the one to beat the machinations of the pop industry?
  • politician: These matters should all be kept sacred from the machinations of politicians.
  • politics: It's about how the machinations of politics affect the little guy.
  • enemy: Is again compelled to hide and travel in secret, due to machinations of enemies; his health impaired thereby.
  • mind: Working in Parliament gave me a first hand understanding of the machinations of the political mind and the bureaucracy of the administration.

Converse of object

  • know: We got to know the finer machinations of employment agency practice.
  • expose: The loan accusations threatened to further expose the machinations of the corrupt social elite running Britain.
  • understand: In love with Emma he had to watch her marriage to his brother, Will, unable to understand the machinations of her mind.
  • involve: At the very end there is a review of the complex machinations involved in bringing the 2001 Planet of the Apes to the screen.
  • avoid: The small generators, bought in secret to avoid machinations by the US, will provide four times more power.
  • show: We have already posted documents showing the dark machinations of the HETs officers on other occasions.

Adjective modifier

  • political: Both thanks to political machinations of one kind or another.
  • evil: His human side leads to fall for the elusive Elektra who by proxy is wrapped up in the evil machinations of the Kingpin.
  • inner: The financial aspect radically altered the inner machinations of the company.
  • behind-the-scenes: Threatened and desperate, the Kro'ka abandons his behind-the-scenes machinations to confront the Doctor directly.
  • sinister: These thugs were acting at someone else's bequest - no doubt for money or for more sinister machinations of organized crime.
  • British: The Guardian has no interest in British machinations overseas, treason, election rigging or whatever.

Noun used with modifier

  • plot: Also, the plot machinations are a bit on the twisty side, which means that it may not suit the popcorn crowd.
  • boardroom: The early history of the gramophone is as much one of litigation and boardroom machination as anything else.