Synonyms of con

con 1 of 4

noun (1)

ˈkän 

as in prisoner

a person convicted as a criminal and serving a prison sentence

a program to help ex-cons find employment

Synonyms & Similar Words

• prisoner
• convict
• inmate
• jailbird
• trusty
• captive
• capture
• parolee
• lifer
• internee
• probationer

con

2 of 4

noun (2)

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

• scam
• fraud
• swindle
• bunko
• bunco
• scheme
• hoax
• flimflam
• shell game
• sting
• trick
• fiddle
• device
• hustle
• cross
• counterfeit
• racket
• Ponzi scheme
• pyramid scheme
• fix
• ploy
• stratagem
• jig
• sham
• dodge
• phoney
• fake
• wile
• gimmick
• rip-off
• forgery
• sleight
• phony
• gouging
• thimblerig
• overcharging
• soaking
• three-card monte
• humbug

con

3 of 4

verb (1)

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

• study
• learn
• memorize
• know
• remember
• understand
• grasp
• recall
• think (of)
• retain
• get
• accept
• recollect
• apprehend
• hark back (to)
• comprehend
• reminisce (about)
• digest
• mind
• absorb
• relive

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• forget
• unlearn
• slight
• ignore
• disregard
• pass over
• overlook
• neglect
• disremember
• misremember
• slur (over)
• overpass

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

• scan
• review
• survey
• examine
• inspect
• view
• go over
• audit
• watch
• check (out)
• scrutinize
• analyze
• oversee
• overlook
• study
• investigate
• notice
• explore
• dissect
• peruse
• pore (over)
• parse
• classify
• research
• comb
• probe
• observe
• plumb
• categorize
• pick over
• delve (into)
• reinspect
• resurvey
• rereview

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• skim
• miss
• glance (at or over)

con

4 of 4

verb (2)

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

• cheat
• squeeze
• hustle
• sting
• pluck
• stick
• swindle
• screw
• beat
• trick
• deceive
• do
• flimflam
• shake down
• defraud
• bilk
• sucker
• fleece
• chouse
• bleed
• mulct
• stiff
• skin
• short
• victimize
• euchre
• fiddle
• gaff
• cozen
• ream
• hose
• exploit
• nobble
• rip off
• chisel
• shortchange
• diddle
• rook
• fool
• take for a ride
• skunk
• thimblerig
• do in
• betray
• take to the cleaners
• wrench
• sell a bill of goods to
• extort
• clip
• dupe
• nick
• overcharge
• rope (in)
• milk
• gouge
• gull
• wrest
• wring
• bitch
• soak
• double-cross
• bamboozle
• fast-talk

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

• trick
• fool
• deceive
• dupe
• kid
• delude
• hoax
• mislead
• tease
• sucker
• bluff
• juggle
• humbug
• hoodwink
• cheat
• gull
• bamboozle
• spoof
• gaff
• string along
• suck in
• misinform
• cozen
• buffalo
• sting
• hornswoggle
• misguide
• snow
• take in
• have on
• fake out
• beguile
• gammon
• snooker
• catch
• do a number on
• have
• burn
• lead one down the garden path
• lead one up the garden path
• pull one's leg
• swindle
• pull the wool over one's eyes
• put on
• stick
• defraud
• fleece
• mulct
• euchre
• flimflam
• skin
• hustle
• shortchange
• chisel
• rook
• diddle
• bleed
• squeeze

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• undeceive
• expose
• reveal
• unmask
• show up
• debunk
• tell
• uncover
• disclose
• divulge
• unveil
• uncloak
• disillusion
• disabuse
• disenchant

Examples Sentences

Recent Examples of con

Noun

One of the few cons was the lack of budget models, so this $550 discount should be extra enticing for those looking for a cutting-edge gaming rig. —PCMAG, 3 Dec. 2024

Dark chocolate has been extensively studied for its cardiometabolic health benefits, but findings have been inconsistent, spurring heated debates over whether this treat has pros that outweigh the cons. —New Atlas, 7 Dec. 2024

Verb

The man was able to con his now-wife Ashley and convince his entire family to stay mum about his children who are very much not just sperm-donor kids. —Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 23 Oct. 2024

Anthony Farrer, owner of the Timepiece Gentleman, conned dozens of customers out of over $5.6 million, according to the guilty plea. —Terry Castleman, Los Angeles Times, 11 Oct. 2024

Phrases Containing con

• mod con