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

Another defendant, Quinton Tate, 44, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to defraud the state. —Cbs News Atlanta Digital Team, CBS News, 14 Jan. 2026

Trump has targeted Somali immigrants with racist rhetoric and accused those in Minneapolis of massively defrauding federal programs. —Bill Barrow, Los Angeles Times, 13 Jan. 2026

Thompson, one of the prosecutors who resigned, oversaw a yearslong investigation that resulted in dozens of charges against people accused of defrauding millions of dollars in government funds. —Julia Ainsley, NBC news, 13 Jan. 2026

In 2006, a joint investigation run by the FBI and IRS – Operation Bullpen – busted a nationwide forgery ring that defrauded collectors of more than $100 million, and just last year, an Indiana man admitted to selling some $350 million worth of fake gear over the span of 20 years. —Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 11 Jan. 2026