as in cheat
a dishonest person who uses clever means to cheat others out of something of value
people who lost money in the scheme discovered that the investment company was a fake and the "owner" just a bilk
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
as in to cheat
to rob by the use of trickery or threats
an investigation revealed that the garage had been bilking motorists for repairs that had never been made
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 bilk
Yvonne Abraham, BostonGlobe.com, 17 May 2018
Letters To The Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 26 June 2025
Like an ’80s televangelist, Lindell is a pro at exploiting religion to bilk the gullible.
—Krista Kafer, Denver Post, 20 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for bilk
Noun
And, despite its super hinky backstory, a bronze behemoth of bilk is taking shape in Everett.
—Yvonne Abraham, BostonGlobe.com, 17 May 2018
Verb
This is a betrayal of the bottom 80% by bad actors that are bluffing about bums bilking benefits.
—Letters To The Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 26 June 2025
Like an ’80s televangelist, Lindell is a pro at exploiting religion to bilk the gullible.
—Krista Kafer, Denver Post, 20 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for bilk
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bilk
Noun
-
The Shortcut — and Its Risks For aspiring creators, reality TV feels like a cheat code.—
Amanda Marcovitch,
Forbes.com,
29 Aug. 2025
-
Travis Hunter’s fantasy football dual eligibility is a cheat code Travis Hunter could be a game-changer in IDP leagues across the various fantasy football game providers.—
Jake Ciely,
New York Times,
29 July 2025
Verb
-
The shakeups are the latest at a time when restaurants are squeezed between a labor shortage, rising food prices and a loss of customers as diners cut back on spending.—
Bud Kennedy,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
9 Sep. 2025
-
For now, the three youngest each sleep in their own pack-and-plays squeezed into their parents’ bedroom.—
Jeff Truesdell,
People.com,
9 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
These changes will also usher in a shift in the way U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) handles customs and tariff enforcement, with both the DOJ and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) laser focused on duty dodgers.—
Kate Nishimura,
Sourcing Journal,
30 July 2025
-
Blue Jays Trade Rumors Reaching New Peak Read more Los angeles dodgers Sandy Alcántara Trade?—
Zach Pressnell,
MSNBC Newsweek,
27 July 2025
Verb
-
There may be even greater reasons to put an ad that plucks the heartstrings in front of a broader crowd.—
Brian Steinberg,
Variety,
5 Sep. 2025
-
Through the BirdReturns farmlands program, late-summer fields are filled with a shallow 2- to 4-inch depth, allowing shorebirds to pluck bugs from the mud beneath the water.—
Jake Goodrick,
Sacbee.com,
4 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Instead of hustling for one-day bookings, Patel engineered a system where one client often meant three to five events—maximizing return and loyalty.—
Sindhya Valloppillil,
Forbes.com,
9 Sep. 2025
-
Farnaz Farjam, one of the show’s executive producers, told Deadline that the production hustled to find a way to capture all three elements.—
Peter White,
Deadline,
1 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
This interaction damages skin cells and can trigger irritation, redness, stinging or burning.—
Leslie Baumann,
Miami Herald,
4 Sep. 2025
-
Sherry recalls one instance that stung in particular, when a friend pointed out his hair loss at a social gathering.—
Charles Trepany,
USA Today,
4 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Delvey, whose real name is Anna Sorokin, gained notoriety for posing as a German heiress and used her social standing to swindle and defraud wealthy people, banks and hotels.—
Cara Lynn Shultz,
PEOPLE,
4 Sep. 2025
-
Aspiration, whose founder Joseph Sanberg recently pled guilty to defrauding investors and lenders, filed for bankruptcy in March, with the Clippers listed as the company’s largest creditor with over $30 million owed.—
Jason Clinkscales,
Sportico.com,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Waterhouse said that screw caps generally make more sense for a wine like rosé, which isn’t intended to age, while cork is the standard for aging wines.—
Dee-Ann Durbin,
Fortune,
5 Sep. 2025
-
Harrison is also a fan of the hair screw tool that’s designed to pick up long strands of hair and loose pet fur with ease.—
Yelena Moroz Alpert,
Architectural Digest,
3 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Bilk.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bilk. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share