'Machiavellian' definitions:
Definition of 'Machiavellian'
From: WordNet
adjective
Of or relating to Machiavelli or the principles of conduct he recommended; "Machiavellian thinking"
noun
A follower of Machiavelli's principles
Definition of 'Machiavellian'
From: GCIDE
- Machiavelian \Mach`i*a*vel"ian\, Machiavellian \Mach`i*a*vel"lian\, a. [From Machiavel (also called Machiavelli), an Italian writer, secretary and historiographer to the republic of Florence.] Of or pertaining to Machiavelli, or to his supposed principles for conduct of government, as enunciated in his tract The Prince; politically cunning; characterized by duplicity, political expediency, unscrupulous cunning, or bad faith; crafty. [1913 Webster +PJC] Machiavelian
Definition of 'Machiavellian'
From: GCIDE
- Machiavelian \Mach`i*a*vel"ian\, Machiavellian \Mach`i*a*vel"lian\, n. One who adopts the principles of Machiavelli; a cunning and unprincipled politician. [1913 Webster] Machiavelism
Synonyms of 'Machiavellian'
From: Moby Thesaurus
- actor,
- acute,
- ambidextrous,
- arch,
- artful,
- Artful Dodger,
- astute,
- bamboozler,
- befuddler,
- beguiler,
- behind-the-scenes operator,
- Byzantine,
- cagey,
- calculating,
- canny,
- Casanova,
- charmer,
- clever,
- coconspirator,
- collusive,
- connivent,
- conniver,
- conniving,
- conspirator,
- conspirer,
- conspiring,
- contriving,
- counterfeiter,
- counterplotter,
- crafty,
- crooked,
- cunning,
- cute,
- deceitful,
- deceiver,
- deep,
- deep-laid,
- deluder,
- designing,
- diplomat,
- diplomatic,
- diplomatist,
- dishonest,
- dissembler,
- dissimulator,
- dodger,
- Don Juan,
- double,
- double-dealer,
- double-dealing,
- double-faced,
- double-minded,
- double-tongued,
- doublehearted,
- duper,
- duplicitous,
- eminence grise,
- enchanter,
- entrancer,
- exploiter,
- faithless,
- faker,
- false,
- false-principled,
- falsehearted,
- feline,
- finagler,
- fooler,
- forger,
- foxy,
- gamesman,
- gay deceiver,
- gray eminence,
- guileful,
- hoaxer,
- hypnotizer,
- influence peddler,
- ingenious,
- insidious,
- intrigant,
- intriguer,
- intriguing,
- inventive,
- jilt,
- jilter,
- joker,
- jokester,
- kidder,
- kingmaker,
- knowing,
- leg-puller,
- logroller,
- Machiavel,
- Machiavelli,
- Machiavellianist,
- Machiavellic,
- machinator,
- maneuverer,
- mesmerizer,
- misleader,
- operator,
- opportunist,
- pawky,
- perfidious,
- plagiarist,
- plagiarizer,
- playactor,
- plotter,
- plotting,
- politic,
- political realist,
- politician,
- pork-barrel politician,
- power broker,
- practical joker,
- ragger,
- ready,
- resourceful,
- role-player,
- schemer,
- scheming,
- seducer,
- serpentine,
- sharp,
- shifty,
- shrewd,
- slick,
- slippery,
- sly,
- smooth,
- snaky,
- sneaky,
- sophistical,
- spoofer,
- stealthy,
- stratagemical,
- strategic,
- strategist,
- subtile,
- subtle,
- supple,
- tactical,
- tease,
- teaser,
- treacherous,
- trickish,
- tricksy,
- tricky,
- two-faced,
- up to,
- vulpine,
- wary,
- wheeler-dealer,
- wily,
- wire-puller