Machination

n.	1.	The act of machinating.
	2.	That which is devised; a device; a hostile or treacherous scheme; an artful design or plot. Devilish machinations come to naught. - Milton. His ingenious machinations had failed. - Macaulay.

Noun

1.

machination - a crafty and involved plot to achieve your (usually sinister) ends Synonyms: intrigue

MACHINATION. The act by which some plot or conspiracy is set on foot.

artifice, behind-the-scenes influence, chicane, chicanery, collusion, complicity, complot, confederacy, connivance, connivery, conspiracy, contrivance, contriving, counterplot, covin, deep-laid plot, design, designing, devices, dodgery, engineering, expedients, finagling, finesse, foul play, frame-up, gambit, game, influence, intrigue, intriguing, little game, maneuvering, maneuvers, manipulating, manipulation, move, pettifoggery, pettifogging, plotting, ploy, political influence, practice, rigging, ruse, scheme, schemery, scheming, sharp practice, skulduggery, sleight, stratagem, supercherie, tactical maneuvers, tactics, trick, trickery, underhand dealing, underplot, web of intrigue, wile, wire-pulling