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Connive vs Conspire - What's the difference?

connive | conspire |

As verbs the difference between connive and conspire

is that connive is to cooperate with others secretly in order to commit a crime; to collude while conspire is to secretly plot or make plans together, often used regarding something bad or illegal.

connive

English

Verb

(conniv)
  • to cooperate with others secretly in order to commit a crime; to collude
  • to plot or scheme
  • to pretend to be ignorant of something in order to escape blame; to ignore a fault deliberately
  • * Jeremy Taylor
  • to connive at what it does not approve
  • * Burke
  • In many of these, the directors were heartily concurring; in most of them, they were encouraging, and sometimes commanding; in all they were conniving .
  • * Macaulay
  • The government thought it expedient, occasionally, to connive at the violation of this rule.
  • (archaic) To open and close the eyes rapidly; to wink.
  • * Spectator
  • The artist is to teach them how to nod judiciously, and to connive with either eye.
  • to be a wench
  • References

    English control verbs ----

    conspire

    English

    Verb

    (conspir)
  • To secretly plot or make plans together, often used regarding something bad or illegal.
  • * Bible, Genesis xxxvii. 18
  • They conspired against [Joseph] to slay him.
  • To agree, to concur to one end.
  • * Roscommon
  • The press, the pulpit, and the stage / Conspire to censure and expose our age.
  • * 1744 , , act 3, scene 5
  • I feel my vanquish'd heart conspire
    To crown a flame by Heav'n approv'd.
  • To try to bring about.
  • * Bishop Hall
  • Angry clouds conspire your overthrow.

    Synonyms

    * (secretly plot) collogue