Machiavellian

Universal Words adjective (formal, disapproving) using clever plans to achieve what you want, without people realizing what you are doing: Machiavellian manipulation / motives / manoeuvres ORIGIN Named after Niccolo Machiavelli, an Italian statesman (1469-1527), who explained in his book The Prince, that it was often necessary for rulers to use immoral methods in order to achieve power and success.