1. a clever scheme or plot, especially one intended to cause harm or gain an advantage through deception
Usage: often used in plural form

Examples

• The villain’s machinations were finally exposed by the detective.
• Political machinations behind the scenes led to the candidate’s downfall.
• She suspected her colleagues of machinations to undermine her promotion.
• The company’s financial machinations were investigated by federal authorities.
• His elaborate machinations to win her affection ultimately backfired.
• The novel reveals the dark machinations of the royal court.