as in scam
an instance of the use of dishonest methods to acquire something of value
the explanation was so plausible that I never suspected it was all a con to make off with my car
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in to study
to commit to memory
usually candidates con their entire campaign speech, right down to the jokes they supposedly ad-lib
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to scan
to look over closely (as for judging quality or condition)
seemed to be conning his face for any sign of uncertainty
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to cheat
to rob by the use of trickery or threats
a fly-by-night operator who had conned hundreds of would-be homeowners out of their hard-earned money
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in to trick
to cause to believe what is untrue
tried to con me into thinking that he had actually won the lottery
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of con
David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 16 June 2026
What are the pros and cons there?
—Mikey O'Connell, HollywoodReporter, 15 June 2026
Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 9 Apr. 2026
One of Sharma's gangster associates tells Keefe that once Sharma realized he'd been conned, there was no way Zac was leaving the apartment alive.
—Frank Langfitt, NPR, 4 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for con
Noun
At the same time, the process of Jessie navigating the pros and cons of consumer tech finds this franchise at its best.
—David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 16 June 2026
What are the pros and cons there?
—Mikey O'Connell, HollywoodReporter, 15 June 2026
Verb
How to get out of an awkward situation in order to avoid booking that plane ticket back to New York, where nothing much awaits her, after conning her way into a stranger’s home?
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 9 Apr. 2026
One of Sharma's gangster associates tells Keefe that once Sharma realized he'd been conned, there was no way Zac was leaving the apartment alive.
—Frank Langfitt, NPR, 4 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for con
Recent Examples of Synonyms for con
Noun
-
The Federal Prison Oversight Act, signed into law in 2024, would create an independent ombudsman to whom prisoners and their families could file complaints.—
Christie Thompson,
NPR,
17 June 2026
-
All the prisoners are out of jail now and all the hungry are fed.—
Michele Amabile Angermiller,
Rolling Stone,
15 June 2026
Noun
-
As bitcoin becomes more involved in private contracts, treasury strategies, cross border settlement and business arrangements, disputes will not always arrive in court as dramatic stories about hacks or scams.—
Susie Violet Ward,
Forbes.com,
19 June 2026
-
For simple, real-world ways to spot scams early and stay protected, visit trusted by millions who watch CyberGuy on TV daily.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
19 June 2026
Verb
-
Casanova said the researchers hope to continue studying the issue and build enough evidence to support changes within the healthcare system, including how cancer patients are educated about chronic heat exposure.—
Ashley Miznazi,
Miami Herald,
18 June 2026
-
While studying the performing arts, his classmates included the likes of Marilyn Monroe and James Dean, according to his family’s biography.—
Matt Minton,
Variety,
18 June 2026
Verb
-
And there are thoughts about airing the program at other times of the year, with executives scanning game calendars.—
Brian Steinberg,
Variety,
16 June 2026
-
Men and women in white coats drew blood, scanned, x-rayed, checked our psyche, our balance, our urine.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
16 June 2026
Verb
-
The fans were cheated Sunday out of a chance to see an interesting pitching matchup between Shota Imanaga and Dylan Cease, the former Cubs farmhand and former White Sox pitcher.—
Jeff Vorva,
Chicago Tribune,
21 June 2026
-
For example, a spouse who catches their partner cheating and kills someone in the heat of emotion.—
Lorena O’Neil,
Rolling Stone,
17 June 2026
Verb
-
The program trains itself to follow your eyeballs and then tries to trick players by moving the circles.—
Joshua Kloke,
New York Times,
17 June 2026
-
Those sites were designed to look real enough to trick people into entering credit card details, passwords or other sensitive information.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
17 June 2026
Noun
-
Wahhh’s career coincided with, and has benefited from, tattoos moving from society’s fringes (military vets, bikers, ex-convicts, gangbangers) into the mainstream and onto the bodies of school teachers, dentists, and maybe the person sitting next to you.—
Rick Kogan,
Chicago Tribune,
17 June 2026
-
David, 57, is starring in the new series, which reimagines the original show, which starred James Garner as Jim Rockford, an ex-convict who was falsely convicted of a crime and becomes a private investigator.—
Victoria Edel,
PEOPLE,
16 June 2026
Verb
-
If a circle is empty, for example, players must learn to move their hands in the opposite direction to complete that task.—
Joshua Kloke,
New York Times,
17 June 2026
-
Technical excellence is paramount, but so is the ability to take risks, learn from your mistakes and work at the edge and intersections of disciplines to transform ideas into knowledge and action.—
Rachel Nuwer,
Scientific American,
16 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Con.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/con. Accessed 24 Jun. 2026.
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