machinations
machinations — noun
1. Secret, carefully planned actions that people take in order to gain power, influ
Secret, carefully planned actions that people take in order to gain power, influence, or an advantage — often involving dishonest or tricky methods.
The journalist uncovered the political machinations behind the new trade deal.
collocation: political machinations
Layla discovered the financial machinations her boss had been using to hide company losses.
collocation: financial machinations
The company's rise rested on secret machinations that a court later uncovered.
Voters grew tired of the backroom machinations of party leaders during the election.
Adaeze grew tired of the office machinations and moved to a smaller company.
- intrigue
Suggests secret plotting within a group, often with an air of mystery or romance; less openly dishonest than machinations
- scheming
More informal; focuses on the act of making clever, often dishonest plans; can describe a person's general behavior rather than a specific plot
- manipulation
Emphasizes controlling or influencing people for your own purposes; can be more individual and less institutional than machinations
- conspiracy
A secret plan by a group to do something illegal or harmful; more specific and often implies a single coordinated plan rather than ongoing scheming
文法句型
the machinations of [person/group]
[adjective] machinations
machinations behind [something]
用法筆記
Almost always used in the plural form (machinations) even though the meaning is collective. The singular form 'machination' is extremely rare in modern English. Subject is typically a group or system of power (political party, corporation, government) rather than an individual.