Definitions
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.
- noun One who adopts the principles of Machiavelli; a cunning and unprincipled politician.
- adjective 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.
Etymologies
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Examples
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People are always bringing up Kennedy-Johnson as a good example of the machiavelian old-school fighter becoming the VP of the young idealist.
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Dick Cheney doesn't have a monopoly on machiavelian plots.
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So, the strategy might be machiavelian or something considerably less competent than that - eh, it's difficult to know which would be preferable.
On Simon Singh against the Chiropractors Jack of Kent 2008
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"Heaven grant that there machiavelian manoevres may end in failure."
A Heart-Song of To-day Annie Gregg Savigny
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No child's play now -- no diplomatic dissembling -- no sword thrusts intended to be parried, no machiavelian hits nor disguises.
Continental Monthly, Vol. 4, No 3, September 1863 Devoted to Literature and National Policy Various
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Page 21: machiavelian standardised to Machiavelian (second occurrence).
State Trials, Political and Social Volume 1 (of 2) Harry Lushington Stephen 1902
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To this practice, which deserved the very phrases which Coke used against the prisoner's dealings, 'devilish and machiavelian policy,' Raleigh protested again and again that he ought not to be subjected, until Coke lost his temper once more, and cried, 'I _thou_ thee, thou traitor, and I will prove thee the rankest traitor in all England.'
Raleigh Edmund Gosse 1888
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M. Blondet, the victim of the machiavelian President's intrigues, was one of the curious figures which lie buried away in the provinces like old coins in a crypt.
The Collection of Antiquities Honor�� de Balzac 1824
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M. Blondet, the victim of the machiavelian President's intrigues, was one of the curious figures which lie buried away in the provinces like old coins in a crypt.
The Jealousies of a Country Town Honor�� de Balzac 1824
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| Reply | Permalink yeah. one way to get on the ticket for sure is to threaten the nominee with an assasination attempt. everytime hillary opens her mouth, the nightmare ticket becomes less and less of a possibility. if she blows this election i will never forgive senator clinton. i will never vote for her should she seek higher office again. i will do everything in my power to defeat her and her machiavelian ways.
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