as in scam
an instance of the use of dishonest methods to acquire something of value
the explanation was so plausible that I never suspected it was all a con to make off with my car
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in to study
to commit to memory
usually candidates con their entire campaign speech, right down to the jokes they supposedly ad-lib
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to scan
to look over closely (as for judging quality or condition)
seemed to be conning his face for any sign of uncertainty
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to cheat
to rob by the use of trickery or threats
a fly-by-night operator who had conned hundreds of would-be homeowners out of their hard-earned money
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in to trick
to cause to believe what is untrue
tried to con me into thinking that he had actually won the lottery
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Examples of con in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 10 Oct. 2024
Woodward reports that during the July 4 lunch at the White House, Blinken posed a series of questions about the pros and cons of Biden continuing his re-election race.
—Mike Allen, Axios, 8 Oct. 2024
Plenty of research has compared the pros (and cons) of different diets, from keto and paleo to intermittent fasting, and their effect on weight loss.
—New Atlas, 7 Oct. 2024
The debate about what to do with those leaves building up on your lawn erupts anew each fall, with lawncare enthusiasts and environmentalists alike weighing in on the pros and cons of each.
—Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA TODAY, 6 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for con 
Noun
This year at 90s con, Hart was joined by the actors who portrayed Sabrina's high school classmates — Jenna Leigh Green, Elisa Donovan, Nate Richert, and Soleil Moon Frye.
—Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 10 Oct. 2024
Woodward reports that during the July 4 lunch at the White House, Blinken posed a series of questions about the pros and cons of Biden continuing his re-election race.
—Mike Allen, Axios, 8 Oct. 2024
Plenty of research has compared the pros (and cons) of different diets, from keto and paleo to intermittent fasting, and their effect on weight loss.
—New Atlas, 7 Oct. 2024
The debate about what to do with those leaves building up on your lawn erupts anew each fall, with lawncare enthusiasts and environmentalists alike weighing in on the pros and cons of each.
—Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA TODAY, 6 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for con
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'con.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Thesaurus Entries Near con
Cite this Entry
“Con.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/con. Accessed 4 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share