cheat

1 of 2

verb

ˈchēt 

cheated; cheating; cheats

transitive verb

1

: to deprive of something valuable by the use of deceit or fraud

cheated the elderly couple out of their property

2

: to influence or lead by deceit, trick, or artifice

a young man who cheated young women into marrying him when he was already married

3

: to elude or thwart by or as if by outwitting

cheat death

intransitive verb

1

a

: to practice fraud or trickery

denied the accusation that he cheated

b

: to violate rules dishonestly

cheat at cards

cheating on a test

2

: to be sexually unfaithful

—usually used with on

was cheating on his wife

3

: to position oneself defensively near a particular area in anticipation of a play in that area

the shortstop was cheating toward second base

cheat

2 of 2

noun

1

: the act or an instance of fraudulently deceiving : deception, fraud

His financial activity turned out to be a great cheat.

2

or cheat code : a code (such as a button combination or password) that activates a hidden feature or capability in a computer or video game

In fact, some game levels are so tough that I had to resort to cheats to get through.

—Peter Cohen

Most people think that using a cheat code is the only way to earn a dishonest reward …

—Christopher Breen

3

: one that cheats : pretender, deceiver

is a liar and a cheat

tax cheats

4

[probably from a deceptive resemblance to grain]

a

: chess sense 1

b

: cheatgrass

5

: the obtaining of property from another by an intentional active distortion of the truth

Synonyms

Verb

• chicane
• finagle
• fudge

Noun

• bilk
• bilker
• cheater
• chiseler
• chiseller
• confidence man
• cozener
• defrauder
• dodger
• fakir
• finagler
• fraudster [chiefly British]
• hoaxer
• scammer
• scamster
• shark
• sharper
• sharpie
• sharpy
• skinner
• swindler
• tricker
• trickster

Choose the Right Synonym for cheat

cheat, cozen, defraud, swindle mean to get something by dishonesty or deception.

cheat suggests using trickery that escapes observation.

cheated me out of a dollar

cozen implies artful persuading or flattering to attain a thing or a purpose.

always able to cozen her grandfather out of a few dollars

defraud stresses depriving one of his or her rights and usually connotes deliberate perversion of the truth.

defrauded of her inheritance by an unscrupulous lawyer

swindle implies large-scale cheating by misrepresentation or abuse of confidence.

swindled of their savings by con artists

Examples of cheat in a Sentence

Verb

The players were accused of cheating.

I had to cheat in order to solve the puzzle.

The store cheats its customers through false advertising.

They cheated him out of a fair deal.

a heroin addict who has cheated death many times

Noun

a cheat at cards

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Others cast blame, lie, and even cheat to avoid consequences. —Serenity Gibbons, Forbes, 10 Dec. 2024

Every woman is either a scorned wife, a cheating girlfriend, or a pretty young thing. —Riann Phillip, Vogue, 9 Dec. 2024

Noun

And Justin Fields’ legs are like a cheat code near the goal line. —The Athletic Nfl Staff, The Athletic, 21 Nov. 2024

Theresa May is selling out the UK to a serial liar and a cheat. —Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune, 6 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Verb

earlier cheat forfeited property, from Middle English chet escheat, short for eschete — more at escheat

First Known Use

Verb

1590, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun

1615, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing cheat

• cheat code
• cheat fate
• cheat on
• cheat sheet

Kids Definition

cheat

1 of 2 verb

ˈchēt 

1

: to deprive of something valuable by dishonest methods

cheated them out of their property

2

: to successfully avoid or oppose by or as if by cleverness

the daredevil had cheated death again

3

: to use unfair or dishonest methods to gain an advantage

cheat on a test

cheat at cards

cheater noun

cheat

2 of 2 noun

1

: an act of cheating

2

: a person who cheats