What does "machiavellianism" mean?

The political philosophy of Machiavelli, especially the realist doctrine which emphasizes the maintenance of the state above ethical concerns.

What is a synonym for "machiavellianism"?

Common synonyms include: artifice, bad faith, cunning, diplomacy, dishonesty, double dealing.

noun

noun ·Rare ·Advanced level

Noun

1
The political philosophy of Machiavelli, especially the realist doctrine which emphasizes the maintenance of the state above ethical concerns. countable, uncountable
""Machiavellianism is a radical type of political realism that is applied to both domestic and international affairs.""
2
the political doctrine of Machiavelli: any means (however unscrupulous) can be used by a ruler in order to create and maintain their autocratic government wordnet
3
A political maneuver that exemplifies the philosophy. Unsavory government politics. countable
4
A psychological construct centered on interpersonal manipulation, lack of empathy, cold affect, and indifference to morality. countable, uncountable
"Machiavellianism refers to interpersonal strategies that advocate self-interest, deception, and manipulation, so it would seem inherently related to core psychopathy and narcissism."

"Machiavellianism should be avoided at all costs."

From Machiavellian + -ism.

Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.