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

Wall Street Journal Charlie Javice was convicted of defrauding JPMorgan—but the bank is paying her legal bills. —Emma Hinchliffe, Fortune, 7 Oct. 2025

Gumrukcu is accused of defrauding Davis for years. —Julia Marnin, Sacbee.com, 3 Oct. 2025

Kokang’s capital Laukkaing was at the heart of the country’s multi-billion-dollar scam industry, where trafficked workers were used to defraud strangers with sophisticated online schemes. —Helen Regan, CNN Money, 30 Sep. 2025

Hoffman initially was charged in 2021 with 13 felonies, including two counts of contributions by a foreign national, contribution in the name of another and conspiracy to defraud the United States. —Chris Ramirez, jsonline.com, 25 Sep. 2025