as in cheat
a dishonest person who uses clever means to cheat others out of something of value
people who lost money in the scheme discovered that the investment company was a fake and the "owner" just a bilk
Synonyms & Similar Words
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as in to cheat
to rob by the use of trickery or threats
an investigation revealed that the garage had been bilking motorists for repairs that had never been made
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of bilk
ABC News, 17 Apr. 2026
The findings dovetail with a spate of romance scammers on social media, particularly Telegram, promoting HELOC fraud as an effective new way to bilk victims out of even more money.
—Kevin Collier, NBC news, 14 Feb. 2026
Richard Hall, Time, 28 Apr. 2026
Twenty-one people are facing charges as part of a massive hospice fraud scheme that prosecutors say bilked California’s medical system out of $267 million.
—Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 9 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for bilk
Noun
Federal prosecutors say Davis would go on to don disguises — a wig once, and a do-rag-style head covering another time — again in March and July to impersonate two other NFL players on video calls and bilk millions more in loans.
—ABC News, 17 Apr. 2026
The findings dovetail with a spate of romance scammers on social media, particularly Telegram, promoting HELOC fraud as an effective new way to bilk victims out of even more money.
—Kevin Collier, NBC news, 14 Feb. 2026
Verb
Not so much the political stuff, but sort of just the hacky supplements and trying to bilk your grandparents out of their life savings kind of style.
—Richard Hall, Time, 28 Apr. 2026
Twenty-one people are facing charges as part of a massive hospice fraud scheme that prosecutors say bilked California’s medical system out of $267 million.
—Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 9 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for bilk
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bilk
Noun
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More flaglantry detrimental to learning, plenty more use the tech to generate entire essays and solve math problems — or, in a word, cheat.—
Frank Landymore,
Futurism,
10 June 2026
-
The chin-grazing bob is a great cheat code for sporting your natural hair texture effortlessly, too.—
Tessa Petak,
InStyle,
10 June 2026
Verb
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Profits are squeezed because of the RAM crisis and Samsung has responded with price increases and weaker deals.—
Janhoi McGregor,
Forbes.com,
13 June 2026
-
SpaceX argues that orbital data centers sidestep the land, water and power grid constraints squeezing terrestrial AI.—
Chris Stokel-Walker,
Scientific American,
12 June 2026
Noun
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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
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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
Verb
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His torso and thighs grow eye-poppingly muscular beneath their skimpy fur-and-leather togs—a development that does not go unnoticed by a warrior named Red Hair, who plucks the young hunk from his post and tosses him into the prime time of the gladiator pit.—
Naomi Fry,
New Yorker,
15 June 2026
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As with the studio version, the track began with Lifeson plucking out a delicate intro on a nylon-string guitar before blasting into monster electric riffs.—
Brian Hiatt,
Rolling Stone,
14 June 2026
Verb
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The apparent charade lasted more than a minute before Wittman removed the phone from his face and hustled ahead of the reporter, ignoring questions the whole time.—
Joseph Konig,
PEOPLE,
10 June 2026
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Devers, after a leadoff walk, hustled to third on Arraez’s single off Garcia’s glove at first.—
Cam Inman,
Mercury News,
10 June 2026
Verb
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Nothing stings quite like being steps from getting your credit card out to make a glorious purchase, and finding that your promo code isn’t working.—
Hannah Chubb,
Condé Nast Traveler,
17 June 2026
-
Ants, mosquitoes, ticks, termites, stinging insects, and house flies are the most common and costly summer pests.—
Sharon Wu,
USA Today,
16 June 2026
Verb
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Marshall and her company, Salon 1884 LLC, have both been charged with grand larceny, scheme to defraud, effect of failure to secure compensation, and failure to pay wages in accordance with the labor law.—
Katie Houlis,
CBS News,
18 June 2026
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Clark County prosecutors slapped the 49-year-old fighter with two serious felony charges, including theft of property valued over $100,000 and passing a check with intent to defraud.—
Alejandro Avila,
FOXNews.com,
17 June 2026
Verb
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Each of the asymmetrical stones used in the brooches, which were individually polished and finished, were cut specifically for the drawing of the creation with 18-karat yellow gold prongs screwed in to protect the fragile stone tableaus.—
Paige Reddinger,
Robb Report,
12 June 2026
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As a bonus, this vacuum comes with different attachments, including a dusting brush and hair screw tool.—
Blake Bakkila,
Architectural Digest,
12 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bilk.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bilk. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.
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