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- DictionaryMachiavellian/ˌmakjəˈvɛlɪən/
adjective
- 1. cunning, scheming, and unscrupulous, especially in politics: "a whole range of outrageous Machiavellian manoeuvres"
noun
- 1. a person who schemes in a Machiavellian way.
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Machiavellian definition: 1. using clever but often dishonest methods that deceive people so that you can win power or…. Learn more.
adjective. Ma· chi· a· vel· lian ˌma-kē-ə-ˈve-lē-ən. -ˈvel-yən. Synonyms of Machiavellian. 1. : of or relating to Machiavelli or Machiavellianism. 2. : suggesting the principles of conduct laid down by Machiavelli. specifically : marked by cunning, duplicity, or bad faith.
Someone Machiavellian is sneaky, cunning, and lacking a moral code. The word comes from the Italian philosopher Niccolò Machiavelli, who wrote the political treatise The Prince in the 1500s, that encourages “the end justifies the means” behavior, especially among politicians.
Machiavellianism, the political theory of the Italian statesman and writer Niccolò Machiavelli (1469–1527), as presented in his best known work, Il Principe (1532; The Prince). The term Machiavellianism is also used more generally to characterize the view that politics is amoral and that ordinarily.
Machiavellian in American English. (ˌmækiəˈvɛliən ; ˌ mɑkiəˈvɛliən ; ˌmækiəˈvɛljən ) adjective. 1. of Machiavelli. 2. of, like, or characterized by the political principles and methods of expediency, craftiness, and duplicity set forth in Machiavelli's book, The Prince; crafty, deceitful, etc. noun. 3.
the use of clever but often dishonest methods that deceive people in order to win power or control: Saying that scientists misinform the press suggests a Machiavellianism that is hard to support. a tale of business-world Machiavellianism. See. Machiavellian. Fewer examples.
Jun 2, 2024 · Machiavellian (comparative more Machiavellian, superlative most Machiavellian) Attempting to achieve goals by cunning, scheming, and unscrupulous methods, especially in politics or in advancing one's career.
