Machiavellian comes from the Italian political philosopher Niccolò Machiavelli (1469-1527), the author of the most famous treatise on bare-knuckled politics ever published, The Prince.

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).

Machiavellianism is a personality trait characterized by manipulativeness, deceitfulness, high levels of self-interest, and a tendency to see other people as means to an end.

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 …

characterized by subtle or unscrupulous cunning, deception, expediency, or dishonesty. He resorted to Machiavellian tactics in order to get ahead.

Machiavellian definition: 1. using clever but often dishonest methods that deceive people so that you can win power or…. Learn more.

If you describe someone as Machiavellian, you are critical of them because they often make clever and secret plans to achieve their aims and are not honest with people.

Oct 7, 2025 · Machiavellian (comparative more Machiavellian, superlative most Machiavellian) Attempting to achieve goals by cunning, scheming, and unscrupulous methods, especially in …

Machiavelli noted how free republics have power structures that are better than principalities. He also notes how advantageous a government by a republic could be as opposed to just a single …

Definition of Machiavellian adjective in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.