1. to plan or scheme secretly, especially to do something harmful or illegal
Usage: formal

Examples

• The rebels machinated against the government for months before launching their coup.
• She suspected her colleagues were machinating to have her removed from the project.
• The villain machinated in the shadows, planning his revenge.
• Political enemies often machinate behind closed doors.
• The corrupt officials machinated to embezzle public funds.
• He was caught machinating with foreign agents against his own country.