Synonyms of defraud

defraud

verb

di-ˈfrȯd 

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

• cheat
• squeeze
• pluck
• hustle
• sting
• deceive
• bilk
• swindle
• screw
• victimize
• beat
• stick
• do
• shortchange
• mulct
• bleed
• exploit
• cozen
• trick
• diddle
• con
• fleece
• nobble
• shake down
• flimflam
• chouse
• betray
• rip off
• sucker
• chisel
• skin
• euchre
• extort
• fiddle
• fool
• ream
• rook
• short
• stiff
• gaff
• do in
• hose
• take for a ride
• take to the cleaners
• thimblerig
• skunk
• sell a bill of goods to
• gouge
• overcharge
• wrench
• wring
• dupe
• wrest
• clip
• nick
• soak
• milk
• bamboozle
• gull
• rope (in)
• double-cross
• bitch
• fast-talk

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

Recent Examples of defraud

The couple was found guilty of conspiracy to commit bank fraud, bank fraud, conspiracy to defraud the United States and tax fraud, per the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. —Stylecaster Editors, StyleCaster, 1 Sep. 2025

The duo were found to have conspired to defraud banks out of more than $30M over the course of a decade. —Peter White, Deadline, 1 Sep. 2025

The Star previously reported that the Republican candidate for governor has been accused by his former running mate, April McCoy, of defrauding a campaign supporter by soliciting a $2,700 donation for software and pocketing the money. —Matthew Kelly, Kansas City Star, 29 Aug. 2025

Walton tapped into his journalist roots and began his own investigation, which ultimately resulted in his con artist being found guilty of defrauding him. —Forbestv, Forbes.com, 25 Aug. 2025