COZEN Synonyms: 110 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

cozen

verb

ˈkə-zən

Definition of cozen

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

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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

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

Recent Examples of Synonyms for cozen

Verb

Some veterans say recruiters deceived them and Haitian authorities tortured them; their families call them scapegoats.

— Astrid Suárez, Los Angeles Times, 7 Oct. 2026
Some of the Colombians have long maintained that they were deceived about the mission and arrived at the home after Moïse had already been killed.

— Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of deceive

Verb

In taking that gamble, the authors cheated fans and missed an opportunity.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 8 Oct. 2026
How successful the gerrymandering actually was remains to be seen — Republicans are polling poorly in the Lone Star State, perhaps in part because of their blatant attempt to cheat voters out of their voices.

— The Denver Post Editorial Board, Denver Post, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of cheat

Verb

The original number was 28,800, but Carolina Herrera designer Wes Gordon’s two children plucked a tulip each to take with them.

— Max Berlinger, Vogue, 7 Oct. 2026
Four years later Fontaine plucked another future Hall of Famer, taking outfielder Tony Gwynn in the third round.

— Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 5 Oct. 2026

Definition of pluck

Verb

While Bela is using the bathroom, Other Mommy approaches her and tricks her into agreeing that their family would be better if Frank wasn’t around.

— William Earl, Variety, 9 Oct. 2026
Aguilar alleged that officers tricked her mother, who only speaks Spanish, into letting them in without giving her a chance to secure Kush.

— Amy Corral, CBS News, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of trick

Verb

Indy struggled against Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens in its season opener, then took a stinging 33-30 overtime loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.

— Elise Devlin, New York Times, 5 Oct. 2026
General Mills spun off Darden Restaurants in 1995, and then Darden sold Red Lobster in 2014, in a deal with the private equity firm Golden Gate Capital that still stings many veterans to this day.

— Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 1 Oct. 2026

Definition of sting

Verb

But in recent years, the shows have become money losers and the network TV business — faced with a decline in viewers that is squeezing profits — are cutting them loose.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 12 Oct. 2026
However, rising costs for housing, food, fuel and insurance coupled with cooling employment rends and the lowest consumer sentiment in a decade is squeezing discretionary spending.

— Vicki M. Young, Footwear News, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of squeeze

Browse Nearby Words

coyotes

cozen

cozenage

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Cozen.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cozen. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of cozen

verb

Synonym Chooser

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Podcast

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

deportment

Popular in Grammar & Usage

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Popular in Wordplay

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

The Words of the Week - Oct. 9

Popular

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

Games & Quizzes