as in scam
an instance of the use of dishonest methods to acquire something of value
identity theft has become one of the most frequent and feared swindles of our time
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
as in to cheat
to rob by the use of trickery or threats
hundreds of people were swindled out of their savings, and all they had to show for it were fake land deeds
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of swindle
Nick Ferraro, Twin Cities, 20 Jan. 2025
The swindles also involved fake investments, phony sweepstakes, and tech support scams in which a person was contacted and told there was something wrong with their computer, which could be corrected for a fee.
—Emilie Le Beau Lucchesi, Discover Magazine, 18 Jan. 2025
Jessica Lussenhop, ProPublica, 29 Mar. 2025
Prosecutors argued that Watson routinely lied about the company’s revenue and its revenue projections, thereby swindling investors out of millions of dollars.
—Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 28 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for swindle
Noun
Justin Ansel Butler falsified documents to make the Duck Donuts franchises in Woodbury and the Mall of America look profitable, according to a criminal complaint filed Friday in Washington County District Court charging him with felony theft by swindle.
—Nick Ferraro, Twin Cities, 20 Jan. 2025
The swindles also involved fake investments, phony sweepstakes, and tech support scams in which a person was contacted and told there was something wrong with their computer, which could be corrected for a fee.
—Emilie Le Beau Lucchesi, Discover Magazine, 18 Jan. 2025
Verb
According to the Conviction Review Unit report, in the years following the trial, one of the lawyers was disbarred, a second had his law license suspended for unethical behavior and a third, who dropped out of the case just before trial, was convicted of swindling a client.
—Jessica Lussenhop, ProPublica, 29 Mar. 2025
Prosecutors argued that Watson routinely lied about the company’s revenue and its revenue projections, thereby swindling investors out of millions of dollars.
—Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 28 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for swindle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for swindle
Noun
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And just as with banking scams and law enforcement scams, keep in mind that any such proactive approach is a scam.—
Zak Doffman,
Forbes.com,
19 Apr. 2025
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Aura Cost Plans from $9 to $25 per month, billed annually Standout features Protects against identity theft, financial fraud, spam calls, online theft, scam websites, viruses and malware.—
Ryley Amond,
CNBC,
18 Apr. 2025
Verb
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There's a problem these players aren't punished enough for cheating.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
14 Apr. 2025
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And right when they're embroiled in the ensuing messy separation, new DNA evidence surfaces in Adam's case, the woman Bob cheated with turns up missing, and just like that, Sarah's back in the spotlight.—
Lizz Schumer,
People.com,
12 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Mike Pavlik, whose family lived across the alley behind ours and who was the leadoff batter on our softball team, squeezed my arm.—
David McGrath,
Chicago Tribune,
18 Apr. 2025
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Consumer confidence has taken a nosedive in 2025 as Americans grow more concerned that inflation could spike again, and tariffs will squeeze their wallets.—
Austin Denean,
Baltimore Sun,
18 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Hit the ball too far up the handle, or off the end of the head, and the bat will flex and vibrate, transferring less energy to the ball and stinging the batter’s hands.—
Louisa Thomas,
New Yorker,
6 Apr. 2025
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Pets who have an encounter with stinging caterpillars will need a vet visit ASAP.—
Arricca Elin SanSone,
Southern Living,
1 Apr. 2025
Verb
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The White Sox used it last winter to make a significant addition, plucking right-hander Shane Smith from Milwaukee.—
Phil Rogers,
Forbes.com,
18 Apr. 2025
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This seaside haven looks like it was plucked from a mid-century souvenir postcard, but a recent $10-million overhaul by Maine hotelier Tim Harrington has ushered the 89-year-old resort into the modern era.—
Travel + Leisure Editors,
Travel + Leisure,
16 Apr. 2025
Verb
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As tens of millions of Americans hustle to pay their taxes, Trump has put the entire global economy into chaos.—
Robert B. Reich,
Hartford Courant,
17 Apr. 2025
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The girl called the police station one night and wound up talking to Liv, who kept her on the phone while the team hustled to try to figure out where she was being held.—
Kimberly Roots,
TVLine,
17 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Property manager defrauds HOAs and bank out of $2.1M, uses money to gamble, feds say In Utah, Blake Floyd Cozzens has admitted to defrauding homeowners associations, tenants, and a Las Vegas bank out of more than $2.1 million, federal prosecutors say.—
Real-Time News team,
Miami Herald,
4 Apr. 2025
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In other words, far from defrauding Social Security and Medicare, undocumented immigrants are subsidizing these programs.—
Elliot Raphaelson,
The Orlando Sentinel,
28 Mar. 2025
Verb
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But as, as the brilliant evolutionary psychologist Geoffrey Miller notes, our capacities to judge competence have evolved, so too have our capacities to deceive others about it.—
Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic,
Forbes.com,
15 Apr. 2025
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And Ken claims to be a man of faith but uses fake Uber accounts to meet his girlfriend and deceive his family.—
Raja Krishnamoorthi,
MSNBC Newsweek,
9 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Swindle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/swindle. Accessed 24 Apr. 2025.
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