confidence man

noun

Definition of confidence mannext
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of confidence man Musk reframes the story of the tech titan as the 21st century reincarnation of the confidence man. — Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 8 Sep. 2026 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for confidence man
  1. cheat
  2. dodger
  3. shark
Noun
  • The Trasks encounter a wide swath of citizens, haggling with sneaky cheats, exploiting innocent fools, and befriending big-hearted neighbors.
    — Ben Travers, IndieWire, 1 Oct. 2026
  • This guy has the infinite money cheat behind him and is very dangerous.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of cheat
Noun
  • The White House is now cracking down on these tariff dodgers.
    — Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Ukraine faces severe personnel shortages with around 200,000 military desertions and 2 million draft-dodgers, threatening its ability to sustain the war against Russia’s 2022 invasion.
    — Kirsten Grieshaber, Los Angeles Times, 14 Apr. 2026
Definition of dodger
Noun
  • The fisherman and the shark apparently tangled when the man tried to release the fish.
    — Jasmine Mendez Follow, Los Angeles Times, 4 Oct. 2026
  • Here, a very dear, longtime local friend officiated the service with just a few attendees which included a blacktip reef shark and a colony of marine iguanas.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of shark

Browse Nearby Words

confidence
confidence man
confidence men
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Cite this Entry

“Confidence man.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/confidence%20man. Accessed 8 Oct. 2026.

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