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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of defraud
After being expelled from the House on a strongly bipartisan vote, Santos pleaded guilty to defrauding his donors.
—
St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Twin Cities, 24 Oct. 2025
Elon Musk’s SpaceX has disabled more than 2,500 Starlink devices in and around scam centers in Myanmar, following warnings from activists that mainly Chinese syndicates were using the technology to defraud people worldwide.
—Mithil Aggarwal, NBC news, 23 Oct. 2025
On July 30, 2024, Ozer signed a plea agreement with prosecutors acknowledging his intent to defraud and obtain money from the Safehaven production under false pretenses.
—Steve Belanger, HollywoodReporter, 23 Oct. 2025
Federal authorities launched an investigation, dubbed Operation Zhen Diagram, into a nationwide gambling ring allegedly involving members of the La Cosa Nostra crime families who allegedly defrauded unwitting victims of millions.
—Ryan Morik , Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 23 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for defraud
St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Twin Cities, 24 Oct. 2025
Elon Musk’s SpaceX has disabled more than 2,500 Starlink devices in and around scam centers in Myanmar, following warnings from activists that mainly Chinese syndicates were using the technology to defraud people worldwide.
—Mithil Aggarwal, NBC news, 23 Oct. 2025
On July 30, 2024, Ozer signed a plea agreement with prosecutors acknowledging his intent to defraud and obtain money from the Safehaven production under false pretenses.
—Steve Belanger, HollywoodReporter, 23 Oct. 2025
Federal authorities launched an investigation, dubbed Operation Zhen Diagram, into a nationwide gambling ring allegedly involving members of the La Cosa Nostra crime families who allegedly defrauded unwitting victims of millions.
—Ryan Morik , Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 23 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for defraud
Recent Examples of Synonyms for defraud
Verb
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Blashill wants the Blackhawks to be a fast-pressure team at both ends of the rink, one that attacks vertically but never cheats for offense.—
Mark Lazerus,
New York Times,
2 Nov. 2025
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When athletes are caught cheating, a number of familiar examples are often brought up.—
David Hill,
Rolling Stone,
31 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The polls had him on top for months, and his decision to focus his mayoral campaign on cost-of-living issues proved to be the right one in a city where residents are increasingly squeezed between growing rents and ever costlier public services.—
Newsweek Contributors,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 Nov. 2025
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Aid is declining and rising debt is squeezing public budgets.—
Obiageli Ezekwesili,
semafor.com,
3 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Pieces from Stock are often plucked by stylists for celebrity editorials for Vanity Fair, Esquire and GQ.—
Angela Velasquez,
Sourcing Journal,
24 Oct. 2025
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This faux Dunhill Fir is designed to look and feel like a tree plucked straight off the lot, without the single-season lifespan or mess of shedding needles.—
Maggie Horton,
PEOPLE,
22 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Outerlands stars Dillon as thirtysomething Cass, who hustles jobs as a server, nanny and party drug dealer to make rent on their tiny San Francisco apartment.—
Glenn Garner,
Deadline,
31 Oct. 2025
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But Boberg, a freshman defender, hustled to the goal line to block the attempt.—
Mike Cook,
Twin Cities,
29 Oct. 2025
Verb
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While basic first aid can often ease the pain of a bee sting, according to the Mayo Clinic, those who are stung more than a dozen times can experience a more severe reaction, which includes nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fever and lightheadedness.—
Desiree Anello,
PEOPLE,
25 Oct. 2025
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Considering that one cocktail could cost one hour of some employees’ wages, the removal of that free drink benefit stung even more, Quimby and Reber told Deadline.—
Katie Campione,
Deadline,
24 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Gordon warned me that this was deceiving.—
Ava Kofman,
New Yorker,
3 Nov. 2025
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Santos was sentenced to prison in April after admitting last year to deceiving donors and stealing the identities of 11 people — including his own family members — to make donations to his campaign.—
David Mark,
The Washington Examiner,
31 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Two former Stockman staffers also were found guilty in a scheme to bilk conservative foundations out of at least $775,000 that was meant for charitable purposes and voter education.—
David Mark,
The Washington Examiner,
31 Oct. 2025
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Former Jackson Health Foundation COO Charmaine Gatlin pled guilty to bilking millions in charity funds.—
Jay Weaver,
Miami Herald,
13 Oct. 2025
Verb
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In just two years Farm Bank had allegedly swindled some $250 million from 132,000 investors.—
Moisés Naím,
Literary Hub,
27 Oct. 2025
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The president also pardoned incarcerated reality TV stars Todd and Julie Chrisley, who were convicted of bank fraud and tax evasion in 2022 after swindling $36 million out of banks in the Atlanta area.—
Mekishana Pierre,
Entertainment Weekly,
27 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Defraud.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defraud. Accessed 6 Nov. 2025.
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