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

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 defraud The new batch is made up of 85,000 individuals who were defrauded by their schools, 61,000 people with permanent or total disabilities and 6,100 public service workers. —

Aris Folley, The Hill, 13 Jan. 2025 Theodore Farnsworth, ex-CEO of Helios & Matheson Analytics (the parent company of MoviePass), pleaded guilty in federal court today of defrauding investors. —

Bethy Squires, Vulture, 8 Jan. 2025 In 2009, disbarred Lexington attorney William Gallion was found guilty of defrauding hundreds of his clients out of tens of millions of dollars they were owed in the settlement of a lawsuit over the diet drug fen-phen, which was pulled from the market over potential damage to heart valves. —

Josh Wood, The Courier-Journal, 23 Dec. 2024 Much of the relief was provided through Borrower Defense to Repayment, a controversial program that allows borrowers to request a discharge if their school misled or defrauded them. —

Adam S. Minsky, Forbes, 20 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for defraud

Recent Examples of Synonyms for defraud

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