Synonyms of bilk

bilk 1 of 2

noun

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

• cheat
• dodger
• shark
• swindler
• defrauder
• phony
• chiseler
• scammer
• sharper
• fraudster
• bilker
• scamster
• cheater
• confidence man
• skinner
• trickster
• ringer
• cozener
• sharpie
• hoaxer
• sham
• fakir
• sneak
• fake
• fox
• adventurer
• finagler
• quack
• tricker
• charlatan
• mountebank
• impostor
• pretender
• faker
• rogue
• knave
• sneaker
• slicker
• schemer
• double-dealer
• double-crosser
• rascal
• humbug
• slickster
• gamesman
• slick
• cardsharp
• plotter
• prankster
• bluffer
• quacksalver
• blackleg
• wheeler-dealer
• fast-talker
• slyboots
• smoothy

bilk

2 of 2

verb

ˈbilk 

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

• cheat
• squeeze
• pluck
• hustle
• sting
• defraud
• screw
• deceive
• swindle
• beat
• stick
• victimize
• mulct
• shortchange
• bleed
• do
• flimflam
• fleece
• diddle
• exploit
• cozen
• con
• trick
• sucker
• chouse
• ream
• nobble
• shake down
• stiff
• chisel
• euchre
• extort
• fiddle
• skin
• betray
• fool
• rip off
• rook
• short
• hose
• gaff
• do in
• skunk
• take to the cleaners
• thimblerig
• take for a ride
• gouge
• wring
• wrench
• overcharge
• sell a bill of goods to
• wrest
• dupe
• soak
• milk
• clip
• nick
• bamboozle
• gull
• rope (in)
• double-cross
• bitch
• fast-talk

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of bilk

Verb

Lawmakers have griped for decades that defense contractors have bilked the federal government on lucrative projects that run over budget and over schedule. — Garrett Downs, CNBC, 14 July 2026

Through letters, Ulisses charms lonely women, bilking them of money and possessions. — Hamilton Cain, Time, 7 July 2026

Multiple scams over the course of three days bilked Washington state residents out of more than $670,000, according to a Facebook post from the local sheriff’s office. — Drew Pittock, USA Today, 5 July 2026

Elsaid is accused of bilking the medical assistance program out of over $182,000, while Agwa is accused of swindling over $94,000 from the program. — Riley Moser, CBS News, 23 June 2026

Podcast

Get Word of the Day delivered to your inbox!