cheat
1cheat
verb \ˈchēt\Definition of CHEAT
transitive verb
1
: to deprive of something valuable by the use of deceit or fraud
2
: to influence or lead by deceit, trick, or artifice
3
: to elude or thwart by or as if by outwitting <cheat death>
intransitive verb
1
a : to practice fraud or trickery b : to violate rules dishonestly <cheat at cards> <cheating on a test>
2
: to be sexually unfaithful —usually used with on <was cheating on his wife>
3
: to position oneself defensively near a particular area in anticipation of a play in that area <the shortstop was cheating toward second base>
— cheat·er noun
Examples of CHEAT
- The players were accused of cheating.
- I had to cheat in order to solve the puzzle.
- The store cheats its customers through false advertising.
- They cheated him out of a fair deal.
- a heroin addict who has cheated death many times
Origin of CHEAT
2cheat
First Known Use: 1590
Synonym Discussion of CHEAT
cheat, cozen, defraud, swindle mean to get something by dishonesty or deception. cheat suggests using trickery that escapes observation <cheated me out of a dollar>. cozen implies artful persuading or flattering to attain a thing or a purpose <always able to cozen her grandfather out of a few dollars>. 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>. swindle implies large-scale cheating by misrepresentation or abuse of confidence <swindled of their savings by con artists>.
2cheat
nounDefinition of CHEAT
3
4
: the obtaining of property from another by an intentional active distortion of the truth
Origin of CHEAT
earlier cheat forfeited property, from Middle English chet escheat, short for eschete — more at escheat
First Known Use: 1615
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