as in cheat
a dishonest person who uses clever means to cheat others out of something of value
taken in by a persuasive confidence man using the Internet
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Recent Examples of confidence man
The image could be a tintype from a late-Victorian play about a confidence man who preys on wealthy young widows.
—
Jessica Winter, New Yorker, 14 July 2025
Jessica Winter, New Yorker, 14 July 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for confidence man
Noun
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The cheat gets his comeuppance.—
Zach Helfand,
New Yorker,
20 Apr. 2026
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Topbag Travel Duffel Bag Bags like this one are my carry-on-only cheat code for extra storage.—
Chaise Sanders,
Travel + Leisure,
5 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Almost all other passengers dine at the Britannia Restaurant, and there’s also a buffet restaurant serving international cuisine, with options for vegans, vegetarians and dairy dodgers.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
16 Jan. 2026
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But my collection intentionally ignored the fraudulent exploits of billionaire heirs, tax dodgers and corporate magnates — defense contracts, government lobbying, bank accounts in Switzerland, shell companies in Panama, citizenship of Antigua and political asylum in London.—
Snigdha Poonam,
The Dial,
28 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The aquarium features hundreds of thousands of gallons of water and dozens of habitats filled with nearly 8,000 animals, including sharks, sea turtles, stingrays and jellyfish.—
Taylor Haught,
Kansas City Star,
21 Apr. 2026
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The shark is a pleasing stand-in for a big bossy grownup, easily fooled.—
Elise Broach,
New Yorker,
20 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Confidence man.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/confidence%20man. Accessed 22 Apr. 2026.
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