Synonyms of cozen

cozen

verb

ˈkə-zən 

1

as in to deceive

to cause to believe what is untrue

cozened several elderly ladies into believing that he was intending marriage

Synonyms & Similar Words

• deceive
• fool
• trick
• delude
• hoodwink
• beguile
• mislead
• dupe
• misinform
• tease
• kid
• misguide
• bamboozle
• hornswoggle
• cheat
• gull
• con
• humbug
• bluff
• gammon
• sting
• sucker
• juggle
• string along
• hoax
• gaff
• spoof
• buffalo
• have on
• suck in
• take in
• catch
• snow
• do a number on
• have
• snooker
• burn
• fake out
• mulct
• lead one down the garden path
• defraud
• pull one's leg
• pull the wool over one's eyes
• swindle
• diddle
• put on
• shortchange
• stick
• euchre
• rook
• fleece
• flimflam
• chisel
• bleed
• hustle
• skin
• squeeze

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• undeceive
• reveal
• expose
• uncover
• disclose
• unmask
• tell
• show up
• divulge
• debunk
• unveil
• uncloak
• disabuse
• disillusion
• disenchant

2

as in to cheat

to rob by the use of trickery or threats

cozened scores of people by persuading them to hand over funds that he would "invest"

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb cozen contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of cozen are cheat, defraud, and swindle. While all these words mean "to get something by dishonesty or deception," cozen implies artful persuading or flattering to attain a thing or a purpose.

always able to cozen her grandfather out of a few dollars

Where would cheat be a reasonable alternative to cozen?

The words cheat and cozen can be used in similar contexts, but cheat suggests using trickery that escapes observation.

cheated me out of a dollar

When would defraud be a good substitute for cozen?

In some situations, the words defraud and cozen are roughly equivalent. 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

When can swindle be used instead of cozen?

While in some cases nearly identical to cozen, swindle implies large-scale cheating by misrepresentation or abuse of confidence.

swindled of their savings by con artists

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of cozen

The point, however, is not to entertain the driver/employee but to cozen the owner. — Dan Neil, WSJ, 19 Dec. 2017

Podcast

Get Word of the Day delivered to your inbox!