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
Relevance
2
as in lies
to be sexually unfaithful
he suspects that his girlfriend is cheating on him
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
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
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of cheats
Mark Lazerus, New York Times, 2 Nov. 2025
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
The university president then decides that, to ensure no one else cheats in the future, no degrees will be issued for an indefinite period to anyone in the School of Business, or the School of Medicine, or your school.
—Agustina Vergara Cid, Oc Register, 21 Dec. 2025
Her character also has a fake handicapped license plate and cheats at golf.
—Tracy Wright, FOXNews.com, 21 Oct. 2025
No one cheats like college football.
—Nicole Fallert, USA Today, 10 Oct. 2025
Verb
Blashill wants the Blackhawks to be a fast-pressure team at both ends of the rink, one that attacks vertically but never cheats for offense.
—Mark Lazerus, New York Times, 2 Nov. 2025
Noun
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
The university president then decides that, to ensure no one else cheats in the future, no degrees will be issued for an indefinite period to anyone in the School of Business, or the School of Medicine, or your school.
—Agustina Vergara Cid, Oc Register, 21 Dec. 2025
Her character also has a fake handicapped license plate and cheats at golf.
—Tracy Wright, FOXNews.com, 21 Oct. 2025
No one cheats like college football.
—Nicole Fallert, USA Today, 10 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cheats
Verb
-
Following a misleading report on hospital finances, The Denver Post published an editorial that misrepresents UCHealth’s role in caring for Colorado patients and misstates key facts about our financial operations.—
Elizabeth B. Concordia,
Denver Post,
29 Dec. 2025
-
The Washington Post is currently pioneering the field of AI slop podcasts, allowing users to generate audio content that, according to staffers, is full of errors and misrepresents articles by the newspaper’s actual reporters.—
Miles Klee,
Rolling Stone,
14 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
In 2023 the group added the adults-only W Costa Navarino, which lies just to the east (within walking distance).—
Jemima Sissons,
Condé Nast Traveler,
22 Jan. 2026
-
But beneath commercial failures lies the foundation for everything that has built modern computing.—
Tim Bajarin,
Forbes.com,
22 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Brooklinen’s high-quality bedding never disappoints, and their down comforter is no exception.—
Julia Harrison,
Architectural Digest,
22 Jan. 2026
-
Central banks and investment firms have warned of a sharp economic correction if AI disappoints investors.—
Tasmin Lockwood,
CNBC,
21 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Most notably, watch here as backup center Oso Ighodaro shuts down Jalen Brunson’s final attempt to tie the score, then Grayson Allen deflects his pass, hustles into the backcourt and banks it off Mikal Bridges’ face and out of bounds.—
John Hollinger,
New York Times,
13 Jan. 2026
-
The pair goes out and hustles other players with a cunning ruse that relies on the era’s racial and ethnic divisions.—
Jeff Ihaza,
Rolling Stone,
29 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
But my collection intentionally ignored the fraudulent exploits of billionaire heirs, tax dodgers and corporate magnates — defense contracts, government lobbying, bank accounts in Switzerland, shell companies in Panama, citizenship of Antigua and political asylum in London.—
Snigdha Poonam,
The Dial,
28 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Experts who spoke to Flow Space are hopeful that these new approvals will provide the necessary tools to treat a disease that evades treatment by constantly mutating.—
Helen Carefoot,
Flow Space,
16 Dec. 2025
-
In the film, Sea-Based X-Band Radar detects a missile flying across the Pacific Ocean toward Chicago that later evades interception.—
Ryan Chan,
MSNBC Newsweek,
26 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
The rooms The Sail Loft sleeps four.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
21 Jan. 2026
-
View gallery - 8 images Commissioned for a customer who wants to enjoy a nomadic retirement, the Tiny Birdy has a compact interior layout that sleeps up to two people and runs fully off-grid with solar power.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
20 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Suddenly, Jeff Parker plucks a sighing six-note guitar run, dropping his shoulders into a solo section that carries the tune to its swooning conclusion.—
Dash Lewis,
Pitchfork,
20 Dec. 2025
-
As Natalie walks away from Shayne, possibly for good, and as Venus and some entity named Gabby lunge for each other, Katie Maloney Schwartz Maloney plucks out her earbuds, pulls her sunglasses off her cunty little bob, closes her copy of The Shards, and packs up her bag.—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
17 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Cheats.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cheats. Accessed 27 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
