as in cheated
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
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Recent Examples of bilked
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.
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Hannah Fry,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Apr. 2026
Authorities arrested eight people accused of conducting a series of health care fraud schemes that bilked tens of millions of dollars from Medicare and other insurance companies across Southern California, prosecutors announced April 2.
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Thao Nguyen,
USA Today,
3 Apr. 2026
In total, prosecutors say the fraud scheme bilked the program out of more than $250 million.
—
Wcco Staff,
CBS News,
19 Feb. 2026
Meanwhile, California continued blowing money on a high-speed rail project that is years behind schedule and billions over budget, was bilked for billions in fraud, and funded an anti-homelessness bureaucracy with no accountability, among other things.
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Matt Fleming,
Oc Register,
26 Jan. 2026
We, too, are horrified by the betrayal of America’s social safety-net systems perpetrated by dozens of individuals in Minnesota who bilked at least $1 billion from taxpayers for non-existent services and clients.
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The Denver Post Editorial Board,
Denver Post,
20 Jan. 2026
Prosecutors say criminals also bilked millions of dollars from Minnesota’s Housing Stabilization Services program — which pays for help finding and keeping housing — as well as the state’s autism-services program by billing for appointments, therapy and casework that never took place.
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Michael Dorgan,
FOXNews.com,
7 Dec. 2025
Hannah Fry,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Apr. 2026
Authorities arrested eight people accused of conducting a series of health care fraud schemes that bilked tens of millions of dollars from Medicare and other insurance companies across Southern California, prosecutors announced April 2.
—
Thao Nguyen,
USA Today,
3 Apr. 2026
In total, prosecutors say the fraud scheme bilked the program out of more than $250 million.
—
Wcco Staff,
CBS News,
19 Feb. 2026
Meanwhile, California continued blowing money on a high-speed rail project that is years behind schedule and billions over budget, was bilked for billions in fraud, and funded an anti-homelessness bureaucracy with no accountability, among other things.
—
Matt Fleming,
Oc Register,
26 Jan. 2026
We, too, are horrified by the betrayal of America’s social safety-net systems perpetrated by dozens of individuals in Minnesota who bilked at least $1 billion from taxpayers for non-existent services and clients.
—
The Denver Post Editorial Board,
Denver Post,
20 Jan. 2026
Prosecutors say criminals also bilked millions of dollars from Minnesota’s Housing Stabilization Services program — which pays for help finding and keeping housing — as well as the state’s autism-services program by billing for appointments, therapy and casework that never took place.
—
Michael Dorgan,
FOXNews.com,
7 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bilked
Verb
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The fans were cheated Sunday out of a chance to see an interesting pitching matchup between Shota Imanaga and Dylan Cease, the former Cubs farmhand and former White Sox pitcher.
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Looking the other way A 2020 study of 840 undergraduate college students found that 32% of them had cheated in some way on an exam.
Verb
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Miami plucked a top prospect out of North Miami Beach on Sunday evening.
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The charming restaurant serves hyper-local cuisine, with many ingredients plucked straight from the gardens.
Verb
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The first inning looked promising as Yandy Diaz and Jonathan Aranda singled, and Cedric Mullins hustled his bunt attempt into a hit to load the bases.
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As bankers hustled behind closed doors to price the deal and reporters indicated a first price of as high as $175, SpaceX perp-traders on Hyperliquid were buying and selling futures as high as $180 around the opening bell and as low as $153 just before the first trade came in at $150.
Verb
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While the driver was unharmed, per the station, CBS affiliate KFDM-TV in Beaumont said its photographer was stung once while at the scene, according to KBTX.
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Drivers stung by high gas prices have enjoyed some welcome relief over recent weeks, however, even as the impact of the Iran war continues to choke off oil supply.
Verb
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As Pino sobbed, family members of Lucy Fernandez squeezed into the wood courtroom pews behind Adams while Pino’s supporters sat behind him.
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Almost the entire population of Gaza, more than 2 million people, has been squeezed into vast, squalid tent cities dependent on international aid.
Verb
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Twice Basilio Aguirre built and lost a fortune, defrauded by business partners one time, the victim of Mexico’s economy the other.
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Demiana Khoury, Tran’s defense attorney, and Progressive Insurance Co,, which was named as the company that had been defrauded, did not respond to requests for comment.
Verb
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Now, Greg is screwed because, one week in, everyone is having a great time.
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No matter who ends up on the Iron Throne, the common people get screwed.
Verb
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While the men whom Chen allegedly swindled began to grow suspicious of her actions around 2024, the Clark County Marriage Bureau reported her to the police, resulting in the launch of an investigation around the same time.
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Aller swindled deal after deal on 2022 draft night, garnering future draft picks and getting off enough salary to sign Brunson and more.
Cite this Entry
“Bilked.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bilked. Accessed 26 Jun. 2026.
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