Synonyms of cheats

cheats 1 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of cheat

1

as in misrepresents

to use dishonest methods to achieve a goal

students who cheat on tests end up never knowing anything

Synonyms & Similar Words

• misrepresents
• evades
• distorts
• fudges
• dodges
• twists
• finagles
• perverts
• chicanes
• cribs
• elaborates
• fakes
• doctors
• falsifies
• colors
• pads
• stretches
• misstates
• misinterprets
• warps
• exaggerates
• tampers (with)
• embellishes
• hedges
• embroiders
• magnifies

2

as in lies

to be sexually unfaithful

he suspects that his girlfriend is cheating on him

Synonyms & Similar Words

• lies
• sleeps
• philanders
• screws around
• steps out
• plays (around)
• mates
• cats (around)
• copulates
• fornicates
• fools around
• lusts
• couples
• womanizes
• tomcats (around)
• makes out

3

as in disappoints

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

• disappoints
• fails
• dissatisfies
• lets down
• displeases
• upsets
• disillusions
• distresses
• disenchants
• deceives
• bums (out)
• deludes
• disgruntles
• mocks
• discontents
• chagrins

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• contents
• satisfies
• fulfills
• gratifies
• gladdens

4

as in hustles

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

• hustles
• plucks
• squeezes
• stings
• tricks
• sticks
• beats
• screws
• defrauds
• does
• swindles
• deceives
• suckers
• exploits
• victimizes
• bleeds
• fiddles
• mulcts
• shortchanges
• fools
• bilks
• diddles
• shorts
• skins
• shakes down
• rips off
• cons
• cozens
• stiffs
• gaffs
• betrays
• chouses
• chisels
• fleeces
• reams
• nobbles
• flimflams
• rooks
• euchres
• skunks
• thimblerigs
• takes to the cleaners
• does in
• hoses
• extorts
• wrenches
• clips
• takes for a ride
• sells a bill of goods to
• overcharges
• gouges
• dupes
• nicks
• milks
• bitches
• soaks
• wrings
• wrests
• gulls
• bamboozles
• double-crosses
• ropes (in)
• fast-talks

cheats

2 of 2

noun

plural of cheat

as in dodgers

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

a cheat at cards

Synonyms & Similar Words

• dodgers
• sharks
• cheaters
• swindlers
• sharpers
• chiselers
• skinners
• scammers
• defrauders
• fraudsters
• phonies
• confidence men
• tricksters
• ringers
• sharpies
• scamsters
• adventurers
• foxes
• fakirs
• trickers
• hoaxers
• cozeners
• bilks
• bilkers
• finaglers
• fakes
• sneakers
• pretenders
• sneaks
• fakers
• charlatans
• impostors
• knaves
• rogues
• quacks
• shams
• humbugs
• mountebanks
• rascals
• double-crossers
• schemers
• bluffers
• plotters
• pranksters
• double-dealers
• gamesmen
• smoothies
• slicksters
• blacklegs
• quacksalvers
• cardsharps
• slyboots
• slickers
• slicks
• fast-talkers
• wheeler-dealers

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of cheats

Verb

Any forward who cheats for defence, as Ryan Nugent-Hopkins has for much of his career, will play an elevated role on a Babcock team. — Allan Mitchell, New York Times, 26 June 2026

Though Lesnar rarely cheats to win, Femi isn’t going to lose clean. — Blake Oestriecher, Forbes.com, 31 May 2026

The top-two primary system also cheats voters by pushing all candidates onto one primary ballot. — John Seiler, Oc Register, 29 Apr. 2026

Inspired by real stories, Eva Marcille portrays a wife who miraculously cheats death after her husband’s (Tyler Lepley) betrayal in Pushed Off a Plane and Survived airing on February 28. — Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 30 Jan. 2026

Noun

Sometimes, the fourth-grader asks Robo-Dad for Minecraft cheats. — Ella Chakarian, Rolling Stone, 28 June 2026

Migrant welfare cheats exposed! — The Hill, 5 May 2026

Iran lies, cheats, blusters and bullies. — Chris Roemer, Baltimore Sun, 5 Mar. 2026

The world is full of bad actors—cheats, liars, tyrants, sickos—who are, ultimately, mere human beings; at least, this was how rationality would have it. — Joshua Rothman, New Yorker, 23 Jan. 2026

Others might feel the author cheats here, leaving it up to the reader to decide. — Mary Ann Grossmann, Twin Cities, 11 Jan. 2026

The movie follows a group of petty cheats, liars and drunks who are duped by nefarious opportunists who visit their crumbling town. — John Penner, Los Angeles Times, 8 Jan. 2026

Economies rotted under the weight of crony capitalism or the various lies, cheats, and inefficiencies of socialism, unless temporarily sustained by external aid (Cuba) or oil (Iraq, Libya, Iran). — Eliot A. Cohen, The Atlantic, 4 Jan. 2026

Throughout the nighttime soap, Margo lies, cheats, and steals in the name of herself and her Republican politician husband, and her wig eventually felt like a metaphor for her general façade. — Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 1 Jan. 2026