Machiavellian

or Mach·i·a·vel·i·an

[ mak-ee-uh-vel-ee-uh n ]

/ ˌmæk i əˈvɛl i ən /

adjective

of, like, or befitting Machiavelli.

being or acting in accordance with the principles of government analyzed in Machiavelli's The Prince, in which political expediency is placed above morality and the use of craft and deceit to maintain the authority and carry out the policies of a ruler is described.

characterized by subtle or unscrupulous cunning, deception, expediency, or dishonesty: He resorted to Machiavellian tactics in order to get ahead.

noun

a follower of the principles analyzed or described in The Prince, especially with reference to techniques of political manipulation.

Origin of Machiavellian

First recorded in 1560–70; Machiavelli + -an

OTHER WORDS FROM Machiavellian

Mach·i·a·vel·li·an·ism, Mach·i·a·vel·lism, noun Mach·i·a·vel·li·an·ly, adverb

Example sentences from the Web for machiavellian

The senator, a college gridiron star, has a coldly Machiavellian widow.

Better Than Fiction: The Rise, Fall, And Return of Webb Hubbell |Lloyd Grove |May 1, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
El Comandante used his Machiavellian bag of tricks to fuel a spoils system and political juggernaut that Venezuelans worshiped.

Hugo Chávez’s House of Cards |Mac Margolis |March 7, 2013 |DAILY BEAST
She is popular within the Democratic caucus, and there is no apparent Machiavellian maneuvering to unseat her.

Nancy Pelosi’s Tireless Obamacare Push Vindicated by Supreme Court Ruling |Eleanor Clift |July 4, 2012 |DAILY BEAST
“George is not a Machiavellian self-interested monster,” Ashton said calmly on the last day of rebuttal.

In the Jury's Hands |Diane Dimond |July 4, 2011 |DAILY BEAST

From Tribal Council to taxes to Trump, trouble seems to follow the Machiavellian reality-TV competitor.

Richard Hatch Can't Win |Andy Dehnart |May 19, 2011 |DAILY BEAST
There is no answering for the diplomacy of Eastern courts; but this explanation seems a little too Machiavellian.

The International Monthly, Volume 4, No. 2, September, 1851 |Various
He could not understand where she got such notions unless it was from the Machiavellian, corrupting brain of Cowperwood himself.

The Financier |Theodore Dreiser
Channing appreciated this Machiavellian policy, and endeavored to put it into practice; but without success.

Kildares of Storm |Eleanor Mercein Kelly
Miss Ley smiled; it was certainly curious that a creature of quite angelic goodness should make so Machiavellian a suggestion.

Mrs. Craddock |W. Somerset Maugham
The Machiavellian cunning of such a policy is entirely characteristic of the conspirator type.

Bolshevism |John Spargo

British Dictionary definitions for machiavellian

Machiavellian

Machiavelian

/ (ˌmækɪəˈvɛlɪən) /

adjective (sometimes not capital)

of or relating to the alleged political principles of Machiavelli; cunning, amoral, and opportunist

noun

a cunning, amoral, and opportunist person, esp a politician

Derived forms of Machiavellian

Machiavellianism or Machiavellism, noun Machiavellist, adjective, noun

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

Machiavellian

or Mach·i·a·vel·i·an

adjective

noun

Origin of Machiavellian

OTHER WORDS FROM Machiavellian

Example sentences from the Web for machiavellian

British Dictionary definitions for machiavellian

Machiavelian

adjective (sometimes not capital)

noun

Derived forms of Machiavellian

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

Machiavellian

or Mach·i·a·vel·i·an

adjective

noun

Origin of Machiavellian

OTHER WORDS FROM Machiavellian

Words related to machiavellian

Example sentences from the Web for machiavellian

British Dictionary definitions for machiavellian

Machiavelian

adjective (sometimes not capital)

noun

Derived forms of Machiavellian