machinate

M3A1C3H4I1N1A1T1E1
/ˈmækɪneɪt//ˈmæʃɪneɪt/

verb

To devise a plot or secret plan; to conspire.

Similar
organizeorganisepreparedeviseget upconspirecabalcomplot
OriginLatin machinātus →
Scrabble 16
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Meanings

verbmachinate (third-person singular simple present machinates, present participle machinating, simple past and past participle machinated)

present singular third person machinates · participle present machinating · participle past machinated · past machinated

  1. ambitransitiveTo devise a plot or secret plan; to conspire.

    Had she already managed to machinate a cushy job for her husband?

    2011, Ian Douglas Robertson, Turtle Hawks

Synonyms & antonyms

verbarrange by systematic planning and united effort

Similar
organizeorganisepreparedeviseget up
Broader
initiatepioneer

verbengage in plotting or enter into a conspiracy, swear together

Similar
conspirecabalcomplotconjure
Broader
plot
Also see
cabalcomplotconjureconspiredeviseengineerget uporganiseorganizeprepare

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Latinmachinātus
  2. Englishmachinate

First attested in 1537; borrowed from Latin machinātus, perfect active participle of machinor (“to invent, devise; to scheme, plot”) (see -ate (verb-forming suffix)), from māchina (“machine, contrivance, device, scheme”), an early borrowing from Ancient Greek. See also machine.

More words from Latin

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Spanish maquinar
  • maquinarTranslations

Rhymes & wordplay

Anagrams

anathemic
Cite this entry
APA

machinate. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/machinate

MLA

“machinate.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/machinate. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “machinate,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/machinate.

Source: machinate on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.