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
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of con
Allison Palmer, Miami Herald, 20 May 2026
Café con Libros Founded by Latina educators, this nonprofit focuses on arts, literature and culture.
—Erik Pedersen, Oc Register, 20 May 2026
Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 9 Apr. 2026
One of Sharma's gangster associates tells Keefe that once Sharma realized he'd been conned, there was no way Zac was leaving the apartment alive.
—Frank Langfitt, NPR, 4 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for con
Noun
Each mortgage type comes has its pros, cons and ideal buyer.
—Allison Palmer, Miami Herald, 20 May 2026
Café con Libros Founded by Latina educators, this nonprofit focuses on arts, literature and culture.
—Erik Pedersen, Oc Register, 20 May 2026
Verb
How to get out of an awkward situation in order to avoid booking that plane ticket back to New York, where nothing much awaits her, after conning her way into a stranger’s home?
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 9 Apr. 2026
One of Sharma's gangster associates tells Keefe that once Sharma realized he'd been conned, there was no way Zac was leaving the apartment alive.
—Frank Langfitt, NPR, 4 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for con
Recent Examples of Synonyms for con
Noun
-
According to media reports, after the fall of Assad large numbers of ISIS prisoners in Syria were relocated to stand trial in Iraq, while some of the organization’s foreign detainees were back to their countries of origin.—
Amer Matar,
The Dial,
26 May 2026
-
None of them has the authority under current law to pursue an investigation; that resource is limited to prisoners or legislators.—
Paula Wethington,
CBS News,
26 May 2026
Noun
-
The whole story is wild to read, and proof that scams, both online and on your phone, are big business and can make big money.—
Alan Henry,
PC Magazine,
29 May 2026
-
Scammers can create an AI replica of someone’s voice using a short recording of their speech — often pulled from social media or an earlier scam call that was surreptitiously recorded.—
CNN.com Wire Service,
Mercury News,
29 May 2026
Verb
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Nobody knows how often adverse events occur, said Kristen Nixon, a Johns Hopkins University researcher who has studied posts about weight loss drugs on Reddit, a popular online forum.—
Maia Rosenfeld,
NBC news,
29 May 2026
-
For the first time, scientists could study the corona — the sun’s ghostly outer atmosphere — without waiting for the moon to cooperate.—
Quanta Magazine,
Quanta Magazine,
28 May 2026
Verb
-
People naturally scan for signs of risk when the person in front of them controls resources, recognition or progression.—
Benjamin Laker,
Forbes.com,
26 May 2026
-
Davis grabs two suitcases off the belt, pulls out a handheld computer that looks like an extra-rugged iPad, and scans the bar codes on the luggage tags.—
Joel Rose,
NPR,
26 May 2026
Verb
-
The book follows the controversy surrounding teenage chess whiz Hans Niemann, who was accused of cheating after beating world champion Magnus Carlsen in a 2022 match.—
Michael Schaub,
Oc Register,
25 May 2026
-
Teams often open themselves up defensively when chasing goals, and Vegas has a unique understanding of how to chase without cheating for offense.—
Jesse Granger,
New York Times,
25 May 2026
Verb
-
Fortunately, unlike Deborah’s scheme to use Ava and pose as a lesbian couple to trick Burnett’s white jumpsuit off an old comedy rival (Cherry Jones), the problem wasn’t one of ownership, but of size.—
Sarah Shachat,
IndieWire,
22 May 2026
-
An apparel site from FBI director Kash Patel has been spotted trying to trick macOS users into installing malware.—
Michael Kan,
PC Magazine,
21 May 2026
Noun
-
Written by Evan Cooper, the film finds five convicts trying to escape through the mountains following a violent train robbery, while shackled together by foot.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
26 May 2026
-
Despite the obvious danger to the convicts, Jackson underscored how popular the spectacle was.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
9 May 2026
Verb
-
The president didn't learn from his interventions in GOP primaries ahead of the 2022 midterms.—
Editorial Board,
Washington Post,
27 May 2026
-
Research shows that a strong, positive school climate can actually buffer students against the negative effects of poverty on learning.—
Linda Darling-Hammond,
Forbes.com,
26 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Con.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/con. Accessed 30 May. 2026.
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