as in cheat
a dishonest person who uses clever means to cheat others out of something of value
taken in by a persuasive confidence man using the Internet
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Recent Examples of confidence man
The image could be a tintype from a late-Victorian play about a confidence man who preys on wealthy young widows.
—
Jessica Winter, New Yorker, 14 July 2025
Jessica Winter, New Yorker, 14 July 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for confidence man
Noun
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Others might feel the author cheats here, leaving it up to the reader to decide.—
Mary Ann Grossmann,
Twin Cities,
11 Jan. 2026
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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
Noun
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Almost all other passengers dine at the Britannia Restaurant, and there’s also a buffet restaurant serving international cuisine, with options for vegans, vegetarians and dairy dodgers.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
16 Jan. 2026
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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
Noun
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The Chinese are crazy for shark fins.—
Jonathan Miles,
Harpers Magazine,
27 Jan. 2026
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The underwater habitat is home to the state fish, the Garibaldi, along with angel sharks, bat rays and other marine life.—
Hannah Fry,
Los Angeles Times,
27 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Confidence man.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/confidence%20man. Accessed 31 Jan. 2026.
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