mas·ter·mind
ˈma-stər-ˌmīnd 
ˌmas-tər-ˈ
: a person who supplies the directing or creative intelligence for a project
masterminded; masterminding; masterminds
: to be the mastermind of
Synonyms
Examples of mastermind in a Sentence
Noun
the mastermind behind the terrorist plot
the real mastermind behind the embezzlement scheme
Verb
They masterminded a unique solution to the problem.
He masterminded the bank robbery.
Recent Examples on the Web
Janey Tracey, EW.com, 23 May 2024
The terrorist mastermind behind Hamas' massacre of nearly 1,200 people, including over 30 Americans, Yahya Sinwar is believed to be using hostages as human shields to hold off Israeli soldiers seeking to capture him in a tunnel deep below Gaza.
—Benjamin Weinthal, Fox News, 11 May 2024
New York Times, The Mercury News, 31 May 2024
For that fateful final trick shot, anyone else might have masterminded an elaborate trick-shot-to-end-all-trick-shots, finishing off the year with an eye-popping spectacle.
—Nancy Kruh, Peoplemag, 28 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for mastermind 
Noun
Director/star James Franco transforms almost beyond recognition to play The Room’s eccentric mastermind, Tommy Wiseau, while his real-life brother Dave Franco plays Sestero, the wide-eyed aspiring actor who gets caught in Wiseau’s strange orbit.
—Janey Tracey, EW.com, 23 May 2024
The terrorist mastermind behind Hamas' massacre of nearly 1,200 people, including over 30 Americans, Yahya Sinwar is believed to be using hostages as human shields to hold off Israeli soldiers seeking to capture him in a tunnel deep below Gaza.
—Benjamin Weinthal, Fox News, 11 May 2024
Verb
Trump has been trying to goad Biden into engaging on the New York case as well as the other indictments by falsely accusing the president of masterminding them.
—New York Times, The Mercury News, 31 May 2024
For that fateful final trick shot, anyone else might have masterminded an elaborate trick-shot-to-end-all-trick-shots, finishing off the year with an eye-popping spectacle.
—Nancy Kruh, Peoplemag, 28 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for mastermind
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'mastermind.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near mastermind
Cite this Entry
“Mastermind.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mastermind. Accessed 6 Jun. 2024.
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