cheated; cheating; cheats
1
: to deprive of something valuable by the use of deceit or fraud
cheated the elderly couple out of their property
2
: to influence or lead by deceit, trick, or artifice
a young man who cheated young women into marrying him when he was already married
3
: to elude or thwart by or as if by outwitting
cheat death
1
a
: to practice fraud or trickery
denied the accusation that he cheated
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
Examples of cheat in a Sentence
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
Recent Examples on the Web
Welker asked Trump about his cheating claims.
—
Alene Tchekmedyian, Los Angeles Times, 7 June 2026
Cooper’s girlfriend accused Cooper of cheating and threw his phone against a wall of Cooper’s apartment, according to the affidavit.
—Nick Kosmider, New York Times, 5 June 2026
In fact, some of the bees even cheated—skipping the problem altogether—to reap the reward, the researchers found.
—Adam Kovac, Scientific American, 4 June 2026
Multiple women said that Platner cheated during their relationships.
—Elizabeth Bruenig, The Atlantic, 4 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for cheat
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Alene Tchekmedyian, Los Angeles Times, 7 June 2026
Cooper’s girlfriend accused Cooper of cheating and threw his phone against a wall of Cooper’s apartment, according to the affidavit.
—Nick Kosmider, New York Times, 5 June 2026
In fact, some of the bees even cheated—skipping the problem altogether—to reap the reward, the researchers found.
—Adam Kovac, Scientific American, 4 June 2026
Multiple women said that Platner cheated during their relationships.
—Elizabeth Bruenig, The Atlantic, 4 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for cheat
Cite this Entry
“Cheat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cheat. Accessed 10 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
cheat
1 of 2 verb1
: to deprive of something valuable by dishonest methods
cheated them out of their property
2
: to successfully avoid or oppose by or as if by cleverness
the daredevil had cheated death again
3
: to use unfair or dishonest methods to gain an advantage
cheat on a test
cheat at cards
cheater
noun
cheat
2 of 2 noun1
: an act of cheating
2
: a person who cheats
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