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swindle

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verb

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb swindle contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of swindle are cheat, cozen, and defraud. While all these words mean "to get something by dishonesty or deception," swindle implies large-scale cheating by misrepresentation or abuse of confidence.

swindled of their savings by con artists

When would cheat be a good substitute for swindle?

The words cheat and swindle are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, cheat suggests using trickery that escapes observation.

cheated me out of a dollar

When might cozen be a better fit than swindle?

The synonyms cozen and swindle are sometimes interchangeable, 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

When could defraud be used to replace swindle?

The meanings of defraud and swindle largely overlap; however, 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

Example 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 swindle
Noun
Some crypto schemes involve crooks offering to help victims recover money lost in prior crypto swindles. Russ Wiles, USA TODAY, 30 Oct. 2024 Amex executives later realized the swindle was the greatest public-relations event in its history. Phil Wahba, Fortune, 22 Sep. 2024
Verb
And yet Henry had even more capacity to invent greater and greater, more complicated lies with which to swindle me out of my inheritance. Chris Willman, Variety, 23 Nov. 2024 This, after swindling Dixon, Illinois residents out of $54 Million over decades. Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 13 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for swindle 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for swindle
Noun
  • According to a recent study, pickpocket scams are more prevalent in Europe, particularly in Italy, which ranked highest for pickpockets among the continent's other top destinations.
    Rylee Johnston, Travel + Leisure, 26 Jan. 2025
  • This is happening as scams evolve into multi-layered, personalized threats that are increasingly difficult to spot.
    Chris Gallagher, USA TODAY, 25 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • There’s a scene where the duo is trying to get their rent money back from Alyssa’s conniving and cheating boyfriend, which perfectly encapsulates the blend of wit and physical comedy that makes the film so memorable.
    Shelby Stewart, Essence, 21 Jan. 2025
  • West Virginia was also willing to cheat off of Keshon Gilbert.
    CJ Moore, The Athletic, 20 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • Use a fire extinguisher by pulling the pin, aiming at the base of the fire, squeezing the lever slowly and sweeping the nozzle side to side For a grease fire, try to cover the flames with a lid or pan to snuff them out.
    Eleanor Nash, Kansas City Star, 23 Jan. 2025
  • Turn the pot on its side and loosen the root ball from the pot's walls by squeezing or tapping the side of the pot a little.
    Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 23 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • One day later Miami would kick off its plans for 2025 right by landing former Georgia starting quarterback Carson Beck in the transfer portal (more on that in a bit), but, still, this Orange Bowl had to sting Cristobal over all that might have been.
    Greg Cote, Miami Herald, 10 Jan. 2025
  • That loss hurt, of course, and losing the Super Bowl this time around would sting, too.
    Vahe Gregorian, Kansas City Star, 6 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • More than 750 northern tidewater gobies were plucked from a lagoon ravaged by the Palisades fire and transferred to aquariums.
    Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 23 Jan. 2025
  • For Hodge, having to squat naked and pluck out her eye was nothing compared with what would follow.
    Julie K. Brown, Miami Herald, 23 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • With a zero-to-60 time below 4 seconds, a quarter-mile time around 12 seconds, and a 155 mph top speed, the coupe clearly hustles.
    Karl Brauer, Forbes, 23 Jan. 2025
  • In this raucous odyssey a wanton minx quests hard across a dreamy landscape of smut, filth and psychics, hustling to lift a curse that has been f*cking her sh*t up.
    Matt Grobar, Deadline, 22 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • Credit Suisse and its subsidiary, based in Britain, admitted to defrauding a number of U.S. and international investors in the financing of an $850 million loan in October 2021.
    Shayla Colon, New York Times, 18 Jan. 2025
  • Bloom was convicted by a jury in March 2014, then sentenced in January 2015 to 14 years in prison for defrauding clients of more than $665 million in what prosecutors believe is the largest fraud case ever brought in federal court in Chicago.
    Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 17 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • Some even provide fake documents to help scammers deceive others.
    Ryan Nawrocki, Baltimore Sun, 19 Jan. 2025
  • On the other hand, disinformation is misleading or false information shared with the intent to deceive.
    Jill Hopke, The Conversation, 17 Jan. 2025

Thesaurus Entries Near swindle

Cite this Entry

“Swindle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/swindle. Accessed 30 Jan. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on swindle

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