as in cheated
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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Recent Examples of defrauded
Among those defrauded by Murdaugh were the sons of his longtime housekeeper, Gloria Satterfield.
—
Kc Baker, PEOPLE, 13 May 2026
In April, Bonta announced that the California Department of Justice had arrested five people in connection with a major health care scheme in Southern California that defrauded taxpayers of nearly a quarter of a billion dollars.
—Noe Padilla, USA Today, 13 May 2026
But Brockman mostly maintained composure while explaining why his journals shouldn’t be viewed as a smoking gun proving that Musk was defrauded.
—Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 5 May 2026
Prosecutors say Goliath, based in Central Florida, defrauded investors of at least $328 million.
—Silas Morgan, The Orlando Sentinel, 1 May 2026
In total, Johnson defrauded the government of $300,000, Frankin of $100,000 and Wilson of $40,000, documents allege.
—Meredith Colias-Pete, Chicago Tribune, 30 Apr. 2026
The arrest earlier this year of Alexander Soofer, the CEO of the nonprofit Abundant Blessings, who allegedly defrauded homelessness programs (including Inside Safe) of millions of dollars underscores the importance of the work Mejia and his team is doing.
—The Editorial Board, Daily News, 29 Apr. 2026
Federal authorities raided 22 locations in Minnesota on Tuesday in relation to allegations that billions of dollars were defrauded from the state.
—Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 28 Apr. 2026
The Federal Bureau of Investigation released a report earlier in April that found that such crimes defrauded Americans of nearly $21 billion in 2025.
—Cara Tabachnick, CBS News, 18 Apr. 2026
Kc Baker, PEOPLE, 13 May 2026
In April, Bonta announced that the California Department of Justice had arrested five people in connection with a major health care scheme in Southern California that defrauded taxpayers of nearly a quarter of a billion dollars.
—Noe Padilla, USA Today, 13 May 2026
But Brockman mostly maintained composure while explaining why his journals shouldn’t be viewed as a smoking gun proving that Musk was defrauded.
—Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 5 May 2026
Prosecutors say Goliath, based in Central Florida, defrauded investors of at least $328 million.
—Silas Morgan, The Orlando Sentinel, 1 May 2026
In total, Johnson defrauded the government of $300,000, Frankin of $100,000 and Wilson of $40,000, documents allege.
—Meredith Colias-Pete, Chicago Tribune, 30 Apr. 2026
The arrest earlier this year of Alexander Soofer, the CEO of the nonprofit Abundant Blessings, who allegedly defrauded homelessness programs (including Inside Safe) of millions of dollars underscores the importance of the work Mejia and his team is doing.
—The Editorial Board, Daily News, 29 Apr. 2026
Federal authorities raided 22 locations in Minnesota on Tuesday in relation to allegations that billions of dollars were defrauded from the state.
—Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 28 Apr. 2026
The Federal Bureau of Investigation released a report earlier in April that found that such crimes defrauded Americans of nearly $21 billion in 2025.
—Cara Tabachnick, CBS News, 18 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for defrauded
Verb
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Even at Princeton, obviously, some students have always cheated.—
Rose Horowitch,
The Atlantic,
12 May 2026
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To the curry-sphere and beyond Iyer cheated a touch with the book’s title because some chapters exist outside of the sauce world.—
Scott Hocker,
TheWeek,
11 May 2026
Verb
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On screen, that depth is anchored by Williams and Storrie, actors plucked from restaurant-server obscurity.—
Jesse Whittock,
Deadline,
15 May 2026
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And wow, how juicy that fruit is, plucked straight from the plant and carved by Balala with a machete.—
Laura Dannen Redman,
Robb Report,
14 May 2026
Verb
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Now owned by the National Gallery in London, the painting, showing Roman god Cupid complaining to his mother Venus about being stung by bees, can be seen in the center of a blurry, black-and-white photograph dating to the 1940s that was published in a 1978 furniture catalog.—
Maximilíano Durón,
ARTnews.com,
11 May 2026
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Teng stung in fourth The Astros deployed Kai-Wei Teng as an opener for the second time this season.—
Matt Kawahara,
Houston Chronicle,
10 May 2026
Verb
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Dominguez hustled back to the wall and made a spectacular catch, but crashed incredibly hard into the wall.—
Ryan Canfield,
FOXNews.com,
7 May 2026
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Caminero led off with a walk, then hustled to third when Aranda followed with a single.—
Marc Topkin,
The Orlando Sentinel,
3 May 2026
Verb
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Dwight reached out and squeezed my upper arm, pulling me into a bear hug, smashing my face against the rough canvas of his jacket, his gloved hand on my ass pulling me closer.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
15 May 2026
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Patrick Mahomes’ torn right ACL and LCL prevented a late-season surge that might have squeezed KC into the postseason and another fateful meeting.—
Tim Graham,
New York Times,
15 May 2026
Verb
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If Miranda Priestly can get thrown in steerage, we’re all screwed.—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
29 Apr. 2026
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But that doesn’t mean working people aren’t getting screwed.—
Stuart Miller,
Oc Register,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
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After over a decade of partnership, Tesla CEO Elon Musk is suing OpenAI CEO Sam Altman for more than $130 billion, alleging that Altman and OpenAI cofounder Greg Brockman swindled him and betrayed the company’s founding charitable mission.—
Eva Roytburg,
Fortune,
27 Apr. 2026
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Holder was one of thousands of Americans swindled out of a total estimated at $20 billion by way of cyber theft in 2025, according to the FBI.—
Anna Schecter,
CBS News,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The return of Prince in the 11th over earned Lukcnow wickets of Devdutt Padikkal, who got deceived by a slower ball, and struggling Jitesh Sharma, who top-edged a pull shot to Pant behind the wickets.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
7 May 2026
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The lawsuit alleged that Capital One deceived customers about interest rates related to some of its savings account options, according to court filings on the settlement website.—
Melina Khan,
USA Today,
3 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Defrauded.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defrauded. Accessed 18 May. 2026.
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