ENGLISH
REFERENCE

conspiring

v.
C1 Advanced US //kənˈspaɪɹɪŋ// UK //kənspˈaɪəɹɪŋ// con·spir·ing

v. planning secretly with other people to do something harmful or illegal. Sometimes it feels like events or luck are working together against you.

v. planning secretly with others to commit an unlawful or harmful act. When applied to inanimate objects or circumstances, it suggests a figurative coordination of events toward a negative outcome.


SIMPLE

They were arrested for conspiring to steal the paintings.

CONTEXTUAL

The two rival companies were caught conspiring to fix prices and drive out smaller competitors.

COMPLEX

The defense argued that while the defendants shared a common goal, there was no evidence of them actively conspiring to subvert the regulatory process through illegal means.

Synonyms
Usage

Often takes the preposition 'with' for accomplices and 'to' or 'against' for the objective.

Pitfall

conspiring for do itconspiring to do itWhen followed by an action, the verb requires the to-infinitive rather than the preposition 'for'.

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