What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
collude
Example
The two companies colluded to fix prices and gain an unfair advantage in the market. [colluded: past tense]
Example
The politicians were accused of colluding with foreign agents to influence the election. [colluding: present participle]
conspire
Example
The group conspired to rob the bank and split the stolen money. [conspired: past tense]
Example
They were arrested for conspiring to overthrow the government. [conspiring: present participle]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Conspire is more commonly used than collude in everyday language. Conspire is a term that is more widely recognized and understood by English speakers, while collude is less commonly used and may be more specific to certain legal or professional contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between collude and conspire?
Both collude and conspire have negative connotations and are generally considered formal or serious words. However, collude may be slightly more formal due to its association with legal or professional contexts.
