1
as in ruse
a clever often underhanded means to achieve an end
giving the new guy at work her cell phone number—"in case of an emergency"—was just a flimflam to pique his romantic interest
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2
as in scam
an instance of the use of dishonest methods to acquire something of value
just the latest Internet flimflam to get e-mail recipients to reveal bank account numbers and other personal information
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in to cheat
to rob by the use of trickery or threats
everyone likes to think that they're too smart to be flimflammed by anyone
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Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of flimflam
Osita Nwanevu, The New Republic, 5 Feb. 2021
Might that statement actually be a bit of protective flimflam?
—Michael Dirda, Washington Post, 26 Feb. 2020
Mark Z. Barabak, Los Angeles Times, 10 Oct. 2023
See all Example Sentences for flimflam 
Noun
Instead, Democrats should present voters with a material choice between a party that has nothing to offer the majority of Americans but abuse and conspiratorial flimflam and a party committed to building a democracy and an economy that work for all.
—Osita Nwanevu, The New Republic, 5 Feb. 2021
Might that statement actually be a bit of protective flimflam?
—Michael Dirda, Washington Post, 26 Feb. 2020
Verb
But liars like Kari Lake, who lost a bid for Arizona governor by parroting former President Trump’s falsehoods and hopes now to flimflam her way to a Senate seat, are only the most visible threat to our system of democracy.
—Mark Z. Barabak, Los Angeles Times, 10 Oct. 2023
See all Example Sentences for flimflam
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flimflam
Noun
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Sunday outsmarted Adam and Hannah with a ruse at Tribal Council.Dalton Ross, EW.com, 12 Dec. 2024
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That was a ruse for Litton, who does not have a grandson, to get onto campus, Honea said.Phil Helsel, NBC News, 6 Dec. 2024
Noun
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These iPhone discount scams are, at heart, nothing more than phishing attacks.Davey Winder, Forbes, 15 Dec. 2024
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The year was 2014, the heyday of the Nigerian prince email scam, and the up-and-coming attorney was no fool.Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 13 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Others cast blame, lie, and even cheat to avoid consequences.Serenity Gibbons, Forbes, 10 Dec. 2024
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Alexander says having an app summarize material for a learner is not considered cheating.Sarah Scott, Parents, 9 Dec. 2024
Noun
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Pacifica came out on its first possession and used a no-huddle, up-tempo scheme to drive 72 yards for a 7-0 lead on Royster’s seven-yard touchdown run.Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 14 Dec. 2024
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Ryan Harris, 36, of New Orleans, was among eight people and two law firms that have been charged in what federal prosecutors say was a yearslong scheme of crashing vehicles into tractor-trailers, fleeing while passengers in those vehicles pretended to be the drivers and lying about what happened.Democrat-Gazette staff from wire reports, arkansasonline.com, 14 Dec. 2024
Noun
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Softbank also blew a billion dollars on Wirecard, the German payments company at the center of an international fraud investigation, shortly before the firm unraveled.David Goldman, CNN, 17 Dec. 2024
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Trump’s lawsuit, which was filed in Iowa state court in Polk County, accuses the outlet and pollster of violating Iowa’s consumer fraud laws by engaging in deception.Zach Schonfeld, The Hill, 17 Dec. 2024
Verb
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On a special episode (first released on November 28, 2024) of The Excerpt podcast: Americans hustle.Dana Taylor, USA TODAY, 5 Dec. 2024
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As the clock ticked on with under 30 seconds remaining, Williams hustled to get the offense set before throwing a pass as time expired which fell incomplete to Rome Odunze meaning the game was over and the Bears lost.Ben Morse, CNN, 29 Nov. 2024
Noun
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There’s also Image Wand which does similar pic-making tricks in the Notes app and Genmoji, the custom emoji characters which are also based on prompts from you.David Phelan, Forbes, 7 Dec. 2024
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Our fee-avoidance is more than a few money-saving tricks.Christopher Elliott, USA TODAY, 6 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Unfortunately, Ronnie’s rough morning gets worse when she’s stung by a jellyfish.Emma Soren, Vulture, 10 Dec. 2024
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Matthew Boyd will be joining the team that defeated the Cleveland Indians in the 2016 World Series, a fact that still stings with fans of Cleveland baseball.Bernie Pleskoff, Forbes, 2 Dec. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near flimflam
Cite this Entry
“Flimflam.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flimflam. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.
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