as in fraud
an instance of the use of dishonest methods to acquire something of value
that's just a scam to bilk insurance companies for staged accidents
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of scam
The asylum policy under Biden was a scam.
—
FOXNews.com, 3 Apr. 2026
Calls come in about elders caught in financial scams or elders who are sick.
—Carol Marbin Miller, Miami Herald, 2 Apr. 2026
Crypto and phishing scams also run rampant on the microblogging site.
—Victor Tangermann, Futurism, 2 Apr. 2026
The world’s oldest tortoise, Jonathan, is alive and well, despite a viral cryptocurrency scam that claimed the animal had died.
—Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 2 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for scam
FOXNews.com, 3 Apr. 2026
Calls come in about elders caught in financial scams or elders who are sick.
—Carol Marbin Miller, Miami Herald, 2 Apr. 2026
Crypto and phishing scams also run rampant on the microblogging site.
—Victor Tangermann, Futurism, 2 Apr. 2026
The world’s oldest tortoise, Jonathan, is alive and well, despite a viral cryptocurrency scam that claimed the animal had died.
—Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 2 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for scam
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scam
Noun
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The leader of the Ex-Slave Pension Association was later imprisoned on mail fraud charges, and the organization faded away, while the Eagles became one of the pressure groups that eventually led to Social Security.—
Trevor Jackson,
The New York Review of Books,
4 Apr. 2026
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At first, the attention became so intense that Bravo was removed from the televisions inside the minimum-security camp, where Shah was serving her sentence for her role in a nationwide telemarketing fraud scheme.—
Dave Quinn,
PEOPLE,
3 Apr. 2026
Noun
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As part of the swindle, McCabe promised to transfer the proceeds from the sale of the yacht to the victim, who according to court filings was a widower who had no family support.—
Sean Emery,
Oc Register,
28 Jan. 2026
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While Yusuf was found guilty of six counts of aiding and abetting theft by swindle (over $35,000) in August by a jury, the decision was overturned by Judge Sarah West in November, according to KARE.—
Adam Sabes,
FOXNews.com,
1 Dec. 2025
Noun
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Although investigators received many tips, some were hoaxes and others didn’t lead to any developments.—
Alex Gurley,
PEOPLE,
1 Apr. 2026
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Some conservatives, Franz admitted, were even claiming that climate change was a Chinese hoax.—
Gaby Del Valle,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
What are the pros and cons of private investments?—
Daniel de Visé,
USA Today,
31 Mar. 2026
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The pros and cons of fiber-optic guidance Ukrainian forces have pushed standard FPV drones to ranges of 50 to 60 kilometers by integrating Starlink links, relay drones, and mothership launch platforms.—
Chris Young,
Interesting Engineering,
30 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The prosecution said all along that the two younger defendants were part of the scheme, but Alaniz Pineda was the one who shot Canoy.—
Shannon Tyler,
Idaho Statesman,
4 Apr. 2026
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Authorities arrested eight people accused of conducting a series of health care fraud schemes that bilked tens of millions of dollars from Medicare and other insurance companies across Southern California, prosecutors announced April 2.—
Thao Nguyen,
USA Today,
3 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Scam.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scam. Accessed 4 Apr. 2026.
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