Synonyms of defraud

defraud

verb

di-ˈfrȯd 

as in to cheat

to rob by the use of trickery or threats

senior citizens generally were too smart to fall for the fast-talking salesman's attempts to defraud them

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb defraud contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of defraud are cheat, cozen, and swindle. While all these words mean "to get something by dishonesty or deception," 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 might cheat be a better fit than defraud?

While in some cases nearly identical to defraud, cheat suggests using trickery that escapes observation.

cheated me out of a dollar

When would cozen be a good substitute for defraud?

The words cozen and defraud can be used in similar contexts, but 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 swindle be a reasonable alternative to defraud?

In some situations, the words swindle and defraud are roughly equivalent. However, swindle implies large-scale cheating by misrepresentation or abuse of confidence.

swindled of their savings by con artists

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of defraud

Selena Gomez and her mother have been accused in a federal lawsuit of defrauding investors of their mental health startup. — Elizabeth Robinson, NBC news, 14 Aug. 2026

This goes way beyond the fact Trump is the only president found guilty of 34 felony counts of falsifying business records and liable for fraudulently inflating the value of his assets to defraud banks and insurers. — Max Taves, Mercury News, 14 Aug. 2026

Last month, Suazo, Matute, Blandon and Farina pleaded not guilty to charges of organized scheme to defraud, operating as an unlicensed money service business and workmans’ compensation fraud, court records show. — Angie Dimichele, Sun Sentinel, 13 Aug. 2026

She is accused of defrauding 238 Naples residents out of more than $40,000. — Landon Mion, FOXNews.com, 11 Aug. 2026