conspire

Group 25Difficulty 1/3

Definition

(verb)
To make secret plans jointly to commit an unlawful or harmful act; of events: to seem to work together
GRE

Example in Context

Events seemed to conspire against the project at every turn, with each solution generating two new problems.

Synonyms

plotschemecollude

Etymology

Breathing together in secret plans.

  • con- (Latin) — together
  • spirare (Latin) — to breathe

Memory Aid

🕵️‍♂️Sounds like “con spy rare

Picture a group of spies 'CONSPIRING' to find a 'RARE' treasure — they must keep it under wraps!

Visual Association

🤫A group of shadowy figures huddled in a dark alley, whispering and exchanging secret plans.

Semantic Clusters

Synonym Groups

Frequently Asked Questions

What does “conspire” mean on the GRE?

conspire (verb) means “To make secret plans jointly to commit an unlawful or harmful act; of events: to seem to work together”. Events seemed to conspire against the project at every turn, with each solution generating two new problems.

How to remember “conspire” for the GRE?

Mnemonic: “conspire” sounds like “con spy rare”. Picture a group of spies 'CONSPIRING' to find a 'RARE' treasure — they must keep it under wraps!

What are synonyms for “conspire”?

Common synonyms: plot, scheme, collude.