1
as in deception
the inclination or practice of misleading others through lies or trickery
a conscienceless adventuress who never earned anything except through cheating
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in adultery
a sexual encounter or relationship between a married person and someone other than their spouse
she swore that if there was ever any cheating, she'd leave in a heartbeat
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in misrepresenting
to use dishonest methods to achieve a goal
students who cheat on tests end up never knowing anything
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in lying
to be sexually unfaithful
he suspects that his girlfriend is cheating on him
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in disappointing
to fall short in satisfying the expectation or hope of
the daredevil survived his plunge over the falls with barely a scratch, having cheated death once again
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in hustling
to rob by the use of trickery or threats
a despicable confidence man who heartlessly cheated elderly people out of their savings
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in dishonest
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
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 cheating
Marni Rose McFall, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Oct. 2025
People make close, intense bonds when stuck in the Big Brother house together, and Vince and Morgan’s dynamic crosses more lines with each passing day, emotional cheating threatening to tip into physical even as Vince continues to hopelessly cloak his feelings in flimsy analogies and code phrases.
—Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 27 Sep. 2025
Emotional cheating occurs when someone develops a strong connection with someone other than their committed partner, leading to them sharing intimate thoughts, feelings and experiences, Sara Kuburic, a psychotherapist, previously wrote in USA TODAY.
—Melina Khan, USA Today, 25 Sep. 2025
Fun is also part of it, and cheating also happens, and in real life, many refugees end up working for the mafia to pay their way to safety.
—Lisa Deaderick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Sep. 2025
The type of state where he’s been found guilty of cheating cheating, and she’s been found guilty of emotionally cheating.
—Victoria Uwumarogie, Essence, 19 Sep. 2025
For the most part, lying and cheating do seem to be bad for you.
—Julie Beck, The Atlantic, 17 Sep. 2025
When yet another affair is discovered (Kate Upton), all three women team up to plot mutual revenge on their cheating, lying, three-timing SOB.
—Caitlin White, Variety, 2 Sep. 2025
Still, some experts and educators argue credit recovery lacks the rigor of a course taught during a traditional school year and gives opportunities for online cheating.
—Leah Olajide, Freep.com, 28 Aug. 2025
James Factora, Them., 10 Oct. 2025
Then de Moura decided to drop a few bombshells of her own, accusing her former bestie of not just cheating with her but with two men.
—Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 10 Oct. 2025
The series does not touch on the tabloid attention that followed the Beckhams in 2004, when it was alleged that David had an affair with his personal assistant, Rebecca Loos, and the many further accusations of cheating that littered gossip columns after.
—Scarlett Harris, Time, 9 Oct. 2025
The race was shaken recently by news that a branch of the National Archives accidentally leaked too much information regarding Sherrill’s military records, a development that came amid questions around her role in a 1994 cheating scandal at the Naval Academy.
—Caroline Vakil, The Hill, 8 Oct. 2025
And Florida’s cap sheet — with all its state-tax-free team-friendly deals — feels almost like cheating in California, in Minnesota, in Illinois, in New York, and especially in Canada.
—Mark Lazerus, New York Times, 8 Oct. 2025
Hicks McTaggart, a reluctant private eye riding the industry’s transition from strikebreaking (labor suppression was once a major part of the private-detective business) to investigating cheating spouses, gets swept up in a case concerning the bombing of a bootlegger’s hooch wagon.
—Jack Denton, Vulture, 6 Oct. 2025
This isn’t the first time that the couple was surrounded by cheating rumors.
—Lea Veloso, StyleCaster, 30 Sep. 2025
She and Jon, who married in 1999, divorced in 2009, the same year as the cheating rumors.
—Carson Blackwelder, PEOPLE, 29 Sep. 2025
Verb
And though all accusations of the Blue Jays' cheating are hearsay, the frequent references to the Astros indicate the lasting impact that scandal has had on the sport.
—Marni Rose McFall, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Oct. 2025
People make close, intense bonds when stuck in the Big Brother house together, and Vince and Morgan’s dynamic crosses more lines with each passing day, emotional cheating threatening to tip into physical even as Vince continues to hopelessly cloak his feelings in flimsy analogies and code phrases.
—Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 27 Sep. 2025
Emotional cheating occurs when someone develops a strong connection with someone other than their committed partner, leading to them sharing intimate thoughts, feelings and experiences, Sara Kuburic, a psychotherapist, previously wrote in USA TODAY.
—Melina Khan, USA Today, 25 Sep. 2025
Fun is also part of it, and cheating also happens, and in real life, many refugees end up working for the mafia to pay their way to safety.
—Lisa Deaderick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Sep. 2025
The type of state where he’s been found guilty of cheating cheating, and she’s been found guilty of emotionally cheating.
—Victoria Uwumarogie, Essence, 19 Sep. 2025
For the most part, lying and cheating do seem to be bad for you.
—Julie Beck, The Atlantic, 17 Sep. 2025
When yet another affair is discovered (Kate Upton), all three women team up to plot mutual revenge on their cheating, lying, three-timing SOB.
—Caitlin White, Variety, 2 Sep. 2025
Still, some experts and educators argue credit recovery lacks the rigor of a course taught during a traditional school year and gives opportunities for online cheating.
—Leah Olajide, Freep.com, 28 Aug. 2025
Adjective
But things got particularly ugly in the most recent reunion episode, in which Adriana de Moura not only leaned on lesbophobic and biphobic rhetoric, but also claimed that Julia Lemigova (who is famously married to renowned TERF Martina Navratilova) has been cheating for years.
—James Factora, Them., 10 Oct. 2025
Then de Moura decided to drop a few bombshells of her own, accusing her former bestie of not just cheating with her but with two men.
—Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 10 Oct. 2025
The series does not touch on the tabloid attention that followed the Beckhams in 2004, when it was alleged that David had an affair with his personal assistant, Rebecca Loos, and the many further accusations of cheating that littered gossip columns after.
—Scarlett Harris, Time, 9 Oct. 2025
The race was shaken recently by news that a branch of the National Archives accidentally leaked too much information regarding Sherrill’s military records, a development that came amid questions around her role in a 1994 cheating scandal at the Naval Academy.
—Caroline Vakil, The Hill, 8 Oct. 2025
And Florida’s cap sheet — with all its state-tax-free team-friendly deals — feels almost like cheating in California, in Minnesota, in Illinois, in New York, and especially in Canada.
—Mark Lazerus, New York Times, 8 Oct. 2025
Hicks McTaggart, a reluctant private eye riding the industry’s transition from strikebreaking (labor suppression was once a major part of the private-detective business) to investigating cheating spouses, gets swept up in a case concerning the bombing of a bootlegger’s hooch wagon.
—Jack Denton, Vulture, 6 Oct. 2025
This isn’t the first time that the couple was surrounded by cheating rumors.
—Lea Veloso, StyleCaster, 30 Sep. 2025
She and Jon, who married in 1999, divorced in 2009, the same year as the cheating rumors.
—Carson Blackwelder, PEOPLE, 29 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cheating
Noun
-
The unscripted show will feature a group of contestants who undergo physical and mental challenges, collecting clues before they are launched into a real-life game of detective work and deception.—
Ethan Shanfeld,
Variety,
7 Oct. 2025
-
The series will feature a group of contestants facing physical and mental challenges to collect clues before stepping into a real-life game of deduction and deception.—
Peter White,
Deadline,
7 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Unhappy unions loom large in the novel, which teems with adultery.—
Katy Waldman,
New Yorker,
22 Sep. 2025
-
Thou shalt not commit adultery.—
Lina Ruiz,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
22 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said Monday that Republicans were misrepresenting the Democratic Party's position.—
Dan Gooding,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Sep. 2025
-
Carr said Monday that Democrats are distorting his comments and misrepresenting the work at the FCC.—
Alexander Bolton,
The Hill,
24 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Kitty’s brother, Milton, insisted until his death earlier this year that his nephews were lying about the abuse.—
Elizabeth Wolfe,
CNN Money,
12 Oct. 2025
-
Bozsik was different; an always available, deep-lying midfielder when that was new.—
Michael Walker,
New York Times,
11 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The pressure to overperform, the fear of disappointing others and the worry of appearing uncommitted are real concerns for growth-minded professionals.—
Ankur Bindal,
Forbes.com,
20 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Viral videos captured federal officers arresting people and hustling them into unmarked vehicles.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
5 Oct. 2025
-
Instead of hustling for one-day bookings, Patel engineered a system where one client often meant three to five events—maximizing return and loyalty.—
Sindhya Valloppillil,
Forbes.com,
9 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Ventura also rejected the defense’s portrayal of Combs as a changed man, calling it dishonest and dangerous.—
Hannah Parry,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Oct. 2025
-
No wonder de Lesseps became a national pariah whose name was synonymous with dishonest incompetence.—
U T Editorial Board,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
19 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
If convicted of bank fraud or making false statements, the penalties could include up to 30 years in prison and $1 million in fines for each count, the DOJ says.—
Deputy News Editor,
MSNBC Newsweek,
11 Oct. 2025
-
Anna Moneymaker | Getty Images A federal grand jury in Virginia last night indicted New York Attorney General Letitia James on charges of bank fraud and making false statements to a financial institution.—
Alex Harring,
CNBC,
10 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Cheating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cheating. Accessed 14 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share