Word
scheming
Phoneticsschem·ing, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈskimɪŋ/
UK/skˈiːmɪŋ/
Definition
adj. making secret and dishonest plans to get what you want. You use this to describe someone who is tricky and cannot be trusted.
adj. involved in making secret, underhanded, or devious plans to achieve a personal goal. Often used to describe a person's character or a specific set of actions intended to deceive others.
Examples
“The scheming politician tried to trick his rivals.”
“After years of scheming to take over the family business, the eldest son was finally caught hiding the company's financial records.”
“The novel features a scheming antagonist whose elaborate plots are eventually undone by his own overconfidence and the loyalty of the protagonist's allies.”
Examples
simple
“The scheming politician tried to trick his rivals.”
contextual
“After years of scheming to take over the family business, the eldest son was finally caught hiding the company's financial records.”
complex
“The novel features a scheming antagonist whose elaborate plots are eventually undone by his own overconfidence and the loyalty of the protagonist's allies.”
Usage
Typically used as an attributive adjective before a noun, though it can follow linking verbs like 'be' or 'seem'.
Real-World Examples
“Caitlin’s shrewish mother Janetta also thinks Frazer is the problem, and is forever scheming to separate him from Jamie.” “Today, fact and fantasy intermingle freely as a consequence of political scheming and jockeying for economic advantage.” Etymology
From scheme + -ing.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/scheming