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Machiavellian
[ mak-ee-uh-vel-ee-uhn ]
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.
Machiavellian
/ ˌæɪəˈɛɪə /
adjective
- 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
- ˌѲˈԾ, noun
- ˌѲˈ, adjectivenoun
Other Word Forms
- Ѳ······ Ѳ······ noun
- Ѳ······ Ѳ······ adverb
Word History and Origins
Origin of Machiavellian1
Example Sentences
Lurie’s opponents underestimated his appeal, calling out his lack of political experience as a disqualifying factor when it came to leading an iconic American city known for its tangled bureaucracy and Machiavellian politics.
“Football coaches tend to be Machiavellian in character, but Robinson was more like a country doctor healing the sick in exchange for fresh eggs.”
As has been the case for the past year, it is Israel’s longest-serving leader, its most Machiavellian and successful political operator, who is calling the shots.
But Trump turned the Machiavellian tables on Pence.
His Machiavellian manipulations culminated in July when the court gave Trump a shocking victory by granting the president broad immunity from criminal prosecution.
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