Synonyms of cheat

cheat 1 of 2

verb

ˈchēt 

1

as in to misrepresent

to use dishonest methods to achieve a goal

students who cheat on tests end up never knowing anything

Synonyms & Similar Words

• misrepresent
• evade
• distort
• dodge
• fudge
• twist
• finagle
• elaborate
• crib
• pervert
• fake
• chicane
• falsify
• pad
• exaggerate
• stretch
• misstate
• misinterpret
• embellish
• warp
• color
• tamper (with)
• doctor
• embroider
• hedge
• magnify

2

as in to lie

to be sexually unfaithful

he suspects that his girlfriend is cheating on him

Synonyms & Similar Words

• lie
• sleep
• philander
• step out
• screw around
• fornicate
• cat (around)
• play (around)
• mate
• copulate
• fool around
• womanize
• lust
• couple
• tomcat (around)
• make out

3

as in to disappoint

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

• disappoint
• fail
• let down
• upset
• displease
• deceive
• dissatisfy
• distress
• bum (out)
• delude
• disillusion
• mock
• disenchant
• discontent
• chagrin
• disgruntle

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• satisfy
• gratify
• content
• fulfill
• fulfil
• gladden

4

as in to squeeze

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

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

cheat

2 of 2

noun

as in dodger

a dishonest person who uses clever means to cheat others out of something of value

a cheat at cards

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb cheat contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of cheat are cozen, defraud, and swindle. While all these words mean "to get something by dishonesty or deception," cheat suggests using trickery that escapes observation.

cheated me out of a dollar

When can cozen be used instead of cheat?

The words cozen and cheat are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, cozen implies artful persuading or flattering to attain a thing or a purpose.

always able to cozen her grandfather out of a few dollars

When is defraud a more appropriate choice than cheat?

The meanings of defraud and cheat largely overlap; however, defraud stresses depriving one of his or her rights and usually connotes deliberate perversion of the truth.

defrauded of her inheritance by an unscrupulous lawyer

Where would swindle be a reasonable alternative to cheat?

In some situations, the words swindle and cheat are roughly equivalent. However, swindle implies large-scale cheating by misrepresentation or abuse of confidence.

swindled of their savings by con artists

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of cheat

Verb

With the help of her best friend Lizzy (McKenzie), the two friends try to cheat Amy’s death and find a way to reverse the curse. —Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 29 Apr. 2025

The five-chapter Final Destination movie series gets a reboot with Final Destination: Bloodlines, which follows the horror film series’ premise about people who cheat death, only for death to come looking for them with grisly comeuppances. —Tim Lammers, Forbes.com, 28 Apr. 2025

Noun

To his supporters, the bluff and feints were all tactics of a master negotiator taking on the world’s trade cheats. —Laurent Belsie, Christian Science Monitor, 11 Apr. 2025

In addition, in the Fall of 2024 the IRS-CI increased its efforts against wealthy tax cheats with actions against 1,600 taxpayers earning more than a million dollars a year which by July of 2024 had already brought in $1 billion in collections. —Steve Weisman, Forbes.com, 5 Apr. 2025