Meaning & use
mastermind
A person with exceptional intelligence who plans and directs a complicated scheme or operation.
See it in a sentence
Police finally identified the mastermind behind the elaborate string of bank robberies.
She was the creative mastermind behind the company's most successful advertising campaign.
A note on using this word
Frequently used for the planner of a criminal or highly ambitious project, whether the outcome is admired or condemned.
Words with a similar meaning
brainsarchitect
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Another way to use it
2. verb
To plan and direct a complicated scheme or project, usually from behind the scenes.
He masterminded the entire merger without most employees ever knowing his role.
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