Thesaurus results for DEFRAUD

Q: How does the verb 'defraud' contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of defraud are cheat , cozen , and swindle . While all these words mean "to get something by dishonesty or deception," 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

Q: When might 'cheat' be a better fit than 'defraud'?

While in some cases nearly identical to defraud , cheat suggests using trickery that escapes observation. // cheated me out of a dollar

Q: When would 'cozen' be a good substitute for 'defraud'?

The words cozen and defraud can be used in similar contexts, but cozen implies artful persuading or flattering to attain a thing or a purpose. // always able to cozen her grandfather out of a few dollars

Q: Where would 'swindle' be a reasonable alternative to 'defraud'?

In some situations, the words swindle and defraud are roughly equivalent. However, swindle implies large-scale cheating by misrepresentation or abuse of confidence. // swindled of their savings by con artists

defraud

verb

di-ˈfrȯd

Definition of defraud next

as in to cheat

to rob by the use of trickery or threats senior citizens generally were too smart to fall for the fast-talking salesman's attempts to defraud them

Synonyms & Similar Words

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How does the verb defraud contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of defraud are cheat, cozen, and swindle. While all these words mean "to get something by dishonesty or deception," 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

When might cheat be a better fit than defraud?

While in some cases nearly identical to defraud, cheat suggests using trickery that escapes observation.

cheated me out of a dollar

When would cozen be a good substitute for defraud?

The words cozen and defraud can be used in similar contexts, but cozen implies artful persuading or flattering to attain a thing or a purpose.

always able to cozen her grandfather out of a few dollars

Where would swindle be a reasonable alternative to defraud?

In some situations, the words swindle and defraud are roughly equivalent. However, swindle implies large-scale cheating by misrepresentation or abuse of confidence.

swindled of their savings by con artists

Examples Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of defraud The robbery happened two months after that, and Whitehead started accumulating legal trouble, culminating with his conviction in Manhattan Federal Court in a multiple fraud scheme, including lying about his ties to Adams to extort and try to defraud a Bronx body shop owner. —

John Annese, New York Daily News, 6 Nov. 2024 The former president faces four felony counts including conspiracy to defraud and obstruction. —

Antonio Pequeño Iv, Forbes, 19 Oct. 2024 In July, Boeing agreed to plead guilty to a felony count of conspiracy to defraud the government for misleading regulators who approved pilot training rules for the Max. —

Tara Copp, Fortune, 1 Nov. 2024 Months later, the company agreed to plead guilty to a felony count of conspiracy to defraud the government for misleading regulators regarding pilot training rules for the 737 Max. —

Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for defraud

Recent Examples of Synonyms for defraud

Verb

Parade balloons seem to cheat physics in order to move through the sky.

Rhett Allain, WIRED, 27 Nov. 2024
Cut to a year later, and Layla is feeling down after being dumped by her cheating boyfriend right before the holidays.

Stephanie McNeal, Glamour, 27 Nov. 2024