defraud

Synonym Chooser

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 In 2023, 17 of its deputies were charged with defrauding federal loan programs of nearly $500,000. Thomas Gibbons-Neff, New York Times, 22 Feb. 2025 The fraud may be that the Trump-Musk duopoly is defrauding America of its potent soft power. Llewellyn King, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Feb. 2025 The owner of a school equipment company has pleaded guilty to federal charges of defrauding the Fort Worth Independent School District in a case that led to the firing of two principals. Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 21 Feb. 2025 The staffers who resigned included members of the borrower defense division, which assists students defrauded or misled by colleges, and the ombudsman's office, which solves problems for student loan borrowers. Zachary Schermele, USA TODAY, 20 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for defraud
Recent Examples of Synonyms for defraud
Verb
  • In July 2022, Renay announced her split from NE-YO in a fiery Instagram caption that accused him of cheating.
    Raven Brunner, People.com, 24 Feb. 2025
  • Here are four deeper psychological factors behind why some people cheat—even in happy relationships.
    Mark Travers, Forbes, 23 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • The international order forged after World War II is imploding, squeezed on all sides by the return of strongmen, nationalism and spheres of influence — with President Trump leading the charge.
    Zachary Basu, Axios, 28 Feb. 2025
  • Goldman Sachs previously estimated that these tariffs could increase inflation by 1 percent while squeezing U.S. company profits and risking retaliatory measures from other nations.
    Dan Perry, Newsweek, 28 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • By the wannabe Yoda’s logic, as successful as a network like NBC was at the time, within a few years, one of its lesser rivals would almost surely mount a miraculous comeback and leave the Peacock looking plucked.
    Josef Adalian, Vulture, 30 Jan. 2025
  • The women’s High Rise Flare Stripe Pant feature bold white and orange stripes, plucked from Whataburger’s retro restaurant designs.
    Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 20 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • Catherine O’Hara and Willem Dafoe hustled prominent athletes in pickleball games over Michelob Ultras.
    Carolyn Burt, Orange County Register, 9 Feb. 2025
  • This week’s warmth has hustled them along toward breaking buds.
    Neil Sperry, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • Wheaton’s actions may have stung in particular because Vought has publicly defended the college in the past.
    Emma Green, The New Yorker, 18 Feb. 2025
  • Sandler and Farley, while both still incredibly popular with audiences, were eventually fired in 1995 by Michaels, who was stung by the criticism.
    Dennis Perkins, EW.com, 16 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • Photo : Volkswagen No, your eyes do not deceive you, a Volkswagen did earn itself a spot on the list of the greatest luxury vehicles of all time.
    Raphael Orlove, Robb Report, 27 Feb. 2025
  • Despite providing historical records and even materials for a documentary on Bad Boy Entertainment in 2021, Burrowes says he was once again deceived and left unpaid for his contributions.
    Amber Corrine, VIBE.com, 27 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • Companies would continue bid rigging on government contracts, bilking taxpayers out of millions of dollars.
    David Williams, Baltimore Sun, 29 Jan. 2025
  • The company would eventually bilk a total of $11 million from more than 13,000 people across the United States.
    Matt Sepic, Twin Cities, 2 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • She was swindled out of more than fifteen hundred dollars for her works of fiction.
    Emily Zarevich, JSTOR Daily, 7 Feb. 2025
  • The backers of a fake ‘X Token’ also have used Musk’s image and name in effort to swindle unsuspecting X users.
    John Hyatt, Forbes, 5 Feb. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Defraud.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defraud. Accessed 5 Mar. 2025.

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