What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
machinate
Example
The group of rebels was machinating a plan to overthrow the government. [machinating: verb]
Example
The villain was always machinating his next move to gain power. [machinate: present participle]
scheme
Example
The company had a scheme to increase profits by cutting costs. [scheme: noun]
Example
She schemed to get her rival fired from the job. [schemed: past tense]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Scheme is more commonly used than machinate in everyday language. Scheme is a versatile word that can be used in various contexts, while machinate is less common and has a more specific usage.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between machinate and scheme?
Both machinate and scheme can be used in formal or informal contexts, but machinate may be perceived as more formal due to its less common usage.
