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

Sophisticated online fraud schemes, operating from industrial-scale scam centers in Southeast Asia, are bilking Americans out of billions of dollars each year. — Editorial Board, Washington Post, 8 Aug. 2026

Federal prosecutors allege Eidleh was the mastermind who bilked taxpayers out of $250 million by exploiting federal child nutrition programs meant to feed vulnerable children. — Louis Casiano, FOXNews.com, 16 July 2026

The Justice Department said that the disgraced former executive bilked the museum out of the money by altering invoices and approving transactions for personal purchases. — News Desk, Artforum, 14 July 2026

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

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