as in scam
an instance of the use of dishonest methods to acquire something of value
identity theft has become one of the most frequent and feared swindles of our time
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
as in to cheat
to rob by the use of trickery or threats
hundreds of people were swindled out of their savings, and all they had to show for it were fake land deeds
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of swindle
Nick Ferraro, Twin Cities, 11 June 2025
Clark also had to consider how the swindle would affect customers.
—Phil Wahba, Fortune, 22 Sep. 2024
Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 1 July 2025
Fans routinely collapsed at his concerts, an act that swindled into the 1990s.
—Ime Ekpo, Forbes.com, 26 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for swindle
Noun
Five other felony theft by swindle charges were dismissed at sentencing, which was attended by several of the school’s administrators and staff.
—Nick Ferraro, Twin Cities, 11 June 2025
Clark also had to consider how the swindle would affect customers.
—Phil Wahba, Fortune, 22 Sep. 2024
Verb
After swindling his way into loads of cash, Yoshii gradually attempts to disconnect from humanity, moving out of the city, shunning his girlfriend, and entrusting duties to his new, devoted assistant.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 1 July 2025
Fans routinely collapsed at his concerts, an act that swindled into the 1990s.
—Ime Ekpo, Forbes.com, 26 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for swindle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for swindle
Noun
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Authorities with Tarrant County Sheriff’s Office are warning residents about a phone scam in which callers pretend to be sheriff’s deputies and falsely accuse people of crimes or unpaid fines.—
Shambhavi Rimal,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
18 Aug. 2025
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In 2024, Americans reported $470 million in losses to text scams, more than fivefold the amount reported in 2020, according to the Federal Trade Commission.—
Jillian Frankel,
People.com,
17 Aug. 2025
Verb
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This year has already seen examples of AI systems willing to deceive, cheat and steal to achieve their goals.—
Matt Egan,
CNN Money,
13 Aug. 2025
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And rebuilding trust – as anyone knows who has lied or cheated – is far harder than protecting it.—
Teresa Ghilarducci,
Forbes.com,
12 Aug. 2025
Verb
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To squeeze all this into exactly 100 days between Wrexham staging a promotion party after last season had ended and Tuesday’s cup tie against Hull is impressive.—
Richard Sutcliffe,
New York Times,
15 Aug. 2025
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Ewers was impressive finding A.J. Henning on one throw and squeezed a pass into a tight window to running back Ollie Gordon II.—
David Furones,
Sun Sentinel,
15 Aug. 2025
Verb
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As for the number of people stung, the beach patrol doesn’t have numbers.—
Todd Karpovich,
Baltimore Sun,
30 July 2025
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The other hallmark symptoms include swelling—especially around the lips, eyelids or extremities—and a burning or stinging sensation in affected areas.—
Elizabeth Yuko,
Flow Space,
23 July 2025
Verb
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Pieces from Stock are often plucked by stylists for celebrity editorials for Vanity Fair, Esquire and GQ.—
Angela Velasquez,
Footwear News,
6 Aug. 2025
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Unlike many popular artists, she was never classically trained or in any other bands, nor was she plucked from obscurity to perform assembly-line creations.—
Holden Seidlitz,
New Yorker,
5 Aug. 2025
Verb
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This was where Leclerc’s innate ability to hustle a car through a qualifying lap and extract every last ounce of pace made all the difference.—
Luke Smith,
New York Times,
2 Aug. 2025
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She’s been hustling on brand deals as well, some that have, like the American Eagle campaign, landed with some controversy.—
Chris Gardner,
HollywoodReporter,
1 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Thirteen individuals have been charged in connection with operating scam call centers that raked in over $5 million by defrauding 400 older adults across the nation, federal prosecutors said.—
Michael Loria,
USA Today,
13 Aug. 2025
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The bill’s most significant changes are the reforms made America’s overgrown social safety net, which was being defrauded and treated like a piggy bank.—
Thomas Aiello,
Boston Herald,
12 Aug. 2025
Verb
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But appearances can be deceiving because there's a lot of bright side here.—
Shubham Yewale,
PC Magazine,
14 Aug. 2025
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Some Russian media commentators also note how Alaska was once Russian territory, sold by Tsar Alexander II to the United States for a pittance in 1867 Many observers, particularly Russian, are dismissing the meeting as a sign Trump has allowed Putin to once again deceive him.—
Patrick Reevell,
ABC News,
13 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Swindle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/swindle. Accessed 21 Aug. 2025.
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