collude means to act in concert with; to conspire. Lexicurio rates it Rare gem — a strength score of 83 out of 100.
Why this word is great
COLLUDE — [Verb] To act together secretly or illegally to deceive or achieve a fraudulent purpose. From Latin collūdere, from com- ("together") and lūdere ("to play"). Unlike cooperate, which implies an open and legitimate alliance, or conspire, which suggests a darker plot against the state, to collude is to engage in a knowing, covert pact where the rules are the first thing abandoned. It is the subtle nod between rival CEOs before a price-fix, the choreographed silence of board members shielding a failing executive, or the quiet alignment of witnesses whose stories have been polished in private—a pantomime of normalcy performed for an audience unaware the script has been pre-written.
verb
- to act in concert with; to conspire.“William understood Diana more but idealized her less. He was privy to her volatile love life. He knew the tabloids made her life hell, but he also knew she colluded with them.”