as in fraudulent
marked by, based on, or done by the use of dishonest methods to acquire something of value
every new technology has brought with it a raft of defrauding schemes that make full use of it
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in swindling
Related Words
as in cheating
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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of defrauding
Jay Weaver, Miami Herald, 15 Dec. 2025
And what could be more legitimate of a cause for removing a governor of the nation's central bank—which is, among other things, the lender of last resort to the country's financial institutions—than the alleged defrauding of those very financial institutions?
—Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Aug. 2025
Angela Andaloro, PEOPLE, 1 May 2026
Attorneys general in at least a dozen other states have already taken legal action against solar companies accusing them of defrauding customers.
—Andrea Lucia, CBS News, 1 May 2026
On Tuesday, the duo pleaded guilty to defrauding their victims — including some of New York City’s most prominent fine art auction houses — of at least $2 million.
—ABC News, 29 Apr. 2026
Bankowski and Bankowska both face up to 20 years in prison for defrauding buyers out of at least $2 million.
—News Desk, Artforum, 29 Apr. 2026
Two New Jersey residents pleaded guilty to running a years-long counterfeit art scheme that funneled fake works into the legitimate market, defrauding buyers of at least $2 million.
—Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 28 Apr. 2026
Former Alabama Crimson Tide defensive tackle Luther Davis pleaded guilty on Monday to defrauding investors by impersonating NFL players.
—Ryan Gaydos Outkick, FOXNews.com, 28 Apr. 2026
But the trial also carries risks for Musk, who last month was held liable by another jury for defrauding investors during his $44 billion takeover of Twitter in 2022.
—Michael Liedtke, Chicago Tribune, 27 Apr. 2026
In federal court, the two pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, including by defrauding the federal Small Business Administration for over $880,000 in pandemic relief funds.
—Eduardo Cuevas, USA Today, 25 Apr. 2026
Noun
Her defrauding of the Foundation, however, surpassed that figure as FBI agents dug deeper into her theft.
—Jay Weaver, Miami Herald, 15 Dec. 2025
And what could be more legitimate of a cause for removing a governor of the nation's central bank—which is, among other things, the lender of last resort to the country's financial institutions—than the alleged defrauding of those very financial institutions?
—Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Aug. 2025
Verb
The network later crashed and burned when Jim was convicted in 1989 of defrauding supporters of his PTL ministry of more than $150 million, including a $265,000 payment to church secretary Hahn to keep quiet about their affair.
—Angela Andaloro, PEOPLE, 1 May 2026
Attorneys general in at least a dozen other states have already taken legal action against solar companies accusing them of defrauding customers.
—Andrea Lucia, CBS News, 1 May 2026
On Tuesday, the duo pleaded guilty to defrauding their victims — including some of New York City’s most prominent fine art auction houses — of at least $2 million.
—ABC News, 29 Apr. 2026
Bankowski and Bankowska both face up to 20 years in prison for defrauding buyers out of at least $2 million.
—News Desk, Artforum, 29 Apr. 2026
Two New Jersey residents pleaded guilty to running a years-long counterfeit art scheme that funneled fake works into the legitimate market, defrauding buyers of at least $2 million.
—Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 28 Apr. 2026
Former Alabama Crimson Tide defensive tackle Luther Davis pleaded guilty on Monday to defrauding investors by impersonating NFL players.
—Ryan Gaydos Outkick, FOXNews.com, 28 Apr. 2026
But the trial also carries risks for Musk, who last month was held liable by another jury for defrauding investors during his $44 billion takeover of Twitter in 2022.
—Michael Liedtke, Chicago Tribune, 27 Apr. 2026
In federal court, the two pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, including by defrauding the federal Small Business Administration for over $880,000 in pandemic relief funds.
—Eduardo Cuevas, USA Today, 25 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for defrauding
Adjective
-
Legislators passed an emergency certification bill in February that increases fines for fraudulent redemption, requires redemption centers to keep track of bulk drop-offs and allows local police to go after out-of-state violators.—
Angela Eichhorst,
Hartford Courant,
30 Apr. 2026
-
First, Jones submitted fraudulent expense reimbursement requests for fictitious business expenses.—
Irene Wright,
USA Today,
30 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Her lawyers, Giuseppe Iannaccone and Marcello Bana, have denied there was a case of grand larceny, which would include fraud and swindling.—
Luisa Zargani,
Footwear News,
14 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Fred, their oldest surviving child, was suspended from Princeton for cheating, then caught embezzling from his Seattle employer to feed, Church suspected, a gambling habit.—
Sebastian Smee,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
-
Court documents state the Matthews were there to get the children after a fight between Ashley and Pouncey over cheating.—
Meredith Colias-Pete,
Chicago Tribune,
3 May 2026
Adjective
-
In Virginia the governor ran one of the most dishonest, disingenuous campaigns in modern history on redistricting.—
NBC news,
NBC news,
3 May 2026
-
Californians created the Department of Insurance to protect consumers against dishonest terms and unfair pricing.—
Ben Allen,
Oc Register,
2 May 2026
Verb
-
From truckers to commuters, gasoline prices are squeezing budgets across the country.—
Jessica Guynn,
USA Today,
29 Apr. 2026
-
The university is scheduled to replace the turf in July, squeezing into a tight window of summer events.—
Shaun Goodwin,
Idaho Statesman,
29 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The boy’s mother, Tommi Jo Mejer, 50, of Aliso Viejo, was arrested days after the accident and charged with child endangerment, accessory after the fact, contributing to the delinquency of a minor and providing false information to a peace officer.—
Fedor Zarkhin,
Los Angeles Times,
1 May 2026
-
The boy’s mother, 50-year-old Tommi Jo Mejer of Aliso Viejo, was later arrested and charged with felony child endangerment, being an accessory after the fact and several misdemeanors, including contributing to the delinquency of a minor and providing false information to a peace officer.—
Sydney Barragan,
Oc Register,
1 May 2026
Verb
-
Over the past few years, Google has been hustling to reinvent its business for the AI age, trying to keep consumers in the habit of going to its search page as chatbots from startups such as OpenAI and Anthropic become more popular.—
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
29 Apr. 2026
-
An agent is seen grabbing Vance by his jacket and hustling him off stage.—
Bill Hutchinson,
ABC News,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
For some, working with soil evokes nostalgia for childhood summers, smelling thorny roses in bloom and plucking ripe tomatoes off the vine.—
Nicole Kliest,
Vogue,
20 Apr. 2026
-
Brawley hires football coach After a months-long search, Brawley High School has hired a football coach, plucking Rick Stewart away from Calipatria.—
John Maffei,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
9 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Defrauding.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defrauding. Accessed 8 May. 2026.
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