Your scheme is like a house built on the sand.
Source: tatoeba (17254)
Scheme
/skiːm/
Synonyms for "scheme" (407 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (82)
Noun(19 words)
a projectaimanalysis frameworkanalysis methodblueprintbuilding structurecataloguecategorizationscolludingcompose a planconcertsconcoctionconfederatingconspiraciesconspiracyconspireconspiringcontrivancescontrive
Adjective(2 words)
abstract frameworkconceptual approach
actionanagnorisisangleapproacharchitectonicsarchitectureargumentarrangearrangementartartful dodgeartificeaspirationatmosphereattackbackgroundbackstairs influencebag of tricksblindblueprint
Show 34 more words
blueprintingbluffboseybrewbyzantine intriguescabalcalculatecalculationcatalogcatalogue raisonnecatastrophecatchcharacterizationchartchartingchicanerychousecolludecollusioncolorcomplicationcomplicitycomplotconceptionconcoctconfederacyconnectionsconnivanceconniveconspiracyconspirecontinuitycontrivancecontrive
Strong matches (122)
Noun(20 words)
Adjective(8 words)
contrivedcreative ideasdecipherable designeconomic theory frameworkgovernmental programsintentional planintriguingitalian sistema
contrivingcook upcounterminecounterplotcoupcoursecourse of actioncovincraftcurvecurve-ballcute trickdealsdeceitdeep-laid plotdenouementdesigndevelopmentdevicedevise
Show 69 more words
diagramdirty dealdirty trickdispositiondodgedraftdrawingengineerengineeringenterpriseenvisagementepisodeexpedientexpositionfablefakementfalling actionfast dealfeintfetchficellefiguringfinaglefinaglingfinessefixforesightforethinkforethoughtformformulateframeframe upframe-upgambitgamegame plangamesgerrymandergimmickgooglygraphgraphinggriftground planguidelineguidelineshatchhatch a plothatch uphocus pocushocus-pocusideaincidentinfluence peddlinginstigateintendintentionintrigueintriguesjockeyjokerjugglejuggleryknaverylay a plotlayoutlinelineup
Related words (203)
little gamelobbyinglobbyismlocal colorlong-range planmachinatemachinationmaneuvermaneuveringmanipulatemanipulationmanoeuvremapmappingmaster planmeditatemethodmethodologymoodmotif
Show 121 more words
movemovementmythosoperateoperations researchorderorderingorganizationorganizeoutlinepackpack the dealpasspathpatternperipeteiapictureplanplanningplanning functionplay gamesplotplottingployployspolicypracticeprearrangeprearrangementpreconcertpreconsiderprecontrivepredesignpredeterminepremeditatepreorderpreresolvepresentationprocedureprogramprogram of actionprogrammeprojectprojectionproposalpropositionprospectuspull stringspurposeracketrationalizationrecognitionred herringrigriggingrising actionropesrusescenarioscheduleschemaschematicschematismschematizationscheme of arrangementschemeryschemesschemingscurvy tricksecondary plotset upsetupsew upshiftslantsleightsleight of handsleight-of-hand trickstack the cardsstorystratagemstrategic planstrategystringsstructuresubjectsubplotsubterfugesuggestionswitchsystemsystematizationtabletable of contentstactictactical plantacticstechniquetexturethe big picturethe picturethematic developmentthemethoughttonetopictricktrickerytwistunderplotvisionwanglewayweb of intriguewilewily devicewire pullingwire-pullingwireswork out beforehandworking plan
Verb(9 words)
make a planmake plansplottedpolitickpremeditatingproduce a planreplenish waterset out a planwangling
Noun(46 words)
maneuversmastermindingmath methodmoneymakingoutlineoutline the stepspattern designedpilot culture change planplanplanned developmentplanning ideaplanning process templatesplanning relatedplanoplotplot eventsplotsplotting motionpractical methodprogram
Show 26 more words
programmesprogramsproposalsproposingregimensresearch allocationrules frameworkruseschemaset-outsshenaniganskulduggeryskullduggeryslumsoftware engineering methodsolid structurespanish sistemastaff-run plotstratagemstratagemsstrategyswindlesystemwangleswaste management system planwiles
Adverb(1 words)
most solid structure
Adjective(4 words)
new arrangementorganized plansystematic arrangementunlawful conduct policy
Determiner(2 words)
the planthe whole system
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: intrigue, a project, abstract framework, action, aim.
- Sentence evidence is available for scheme, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from wiktionary, wordnet, derived_reverse, moby, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "scheme".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "scheme"
Keep "scheme" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "scheme" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "scheme", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "scheme" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
22 entriesShowing 16 of 22 words.
More specific
13 entriesCollocations
12 entriescontrive a schemedevise a schemegrand schemehatch a schemeplot a schemeput forward a schemepyramid schemescheme of studyscheme of workscheme to misleadsecret schemewell planned scheme
Inflections
3 entriesDerivations
6 entriesTranslations
35 translations across 15 languages.
Bulgarian
2 entries- планирам verb (to contrive a plan)
- проектирам verb (to contrive a plan)
Catalan
4 entries- conspirar verb (to contrive a plan)
- maquinar verb (to contrive a plan)
- ordir verb (to contrive a plan)
- tramar verb (to contrive a plan)
Chinese Mandarin
2 entries- 密謀 /密谋 verb (to contrive a plan)
- 陰謀 /阴谋 verb (to contrive a plan)
Cornish
1 entries- devisya verb (to contrive a plan)
Finnish
4 entries- juonitella verb (to contrive a plan)
- kieroilla verb (to contrive a plan)
- suunnitella verb (to contrive a plan)
- vehkeillä verb (to contrive a plan)
French
2 entries- conspirer verb (to contrive a plan)
- tramer verb (to contrive a plan)
German
2 entries- etwas aushecken verb (to contrive a plan)
- intrigieren verb (to contrive a plan)
Greek
4 entries- απεργάζομαι verb (to contrive a plan)
- εξυφαίνω verb (to contrive a plan)
- σκευωρώ verb (to contrive a plan)
- συνωμοτώ verb (to contrive a plan)
Hungarian
3 entries- cselt sző verb (to contrive a plan)
- mesterkedik verb (to contrive a plan)
- ármánykodik verb (to contrive a plan)
Japanese
1 entries- 計画する verb (to contrive a plan)
Latin
1 entries- contechnor verb (to contrive a plan)
Middle English
2 entries- compassen verb (to contrive a plan)
- ymagynen verb (to contrive a plan)
Russian
3 entries- замы́слить verb (to contrive a plan)
- замышля́ть verb (to contrive a plan)
- плани́ровать verb (to contrive a plan)
Spanish
2 entries- tramar verb (to contrive a plan)
- urdir verb (to contrive a plan)
Swedish
1 entries- smida ränker verb (to contrive a plan)
Sample sentences
23 total sentences available.
Your help is indispensable for the success of the scheme.
Source: tatoeba (48481)
What if the scheme doesn't work out?
Source: tatoeba (48567)
There is a scheme to expand the company.
Source: tatoeba (49138)
Showing 4 of 23 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "scheme"?
Closest matches include intrigue, a project, abstract framework, action, aim.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "scheme"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.