# scheming

/ˈskimɪŋ/ (US) · /skˈiːmɪŋ/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/scheming
Updated: 2026-05-09

## Definition

making secret and dishonest plans to get what you want. You use this to describe someone who is tricky and cannot be trusted.

For teachers: 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.

## Usage notes

- Typically used as an attributive adjective before a noun, though it can follow linking verbs like 'be' or 'seem'.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.