Synonyms of fiddle

fiddle 1 of 2

verb

1

as in to fidget

to make jerky or restless movements

the executive fiddled with a pen as she impatiently waited for the meeting to begin

Synonyms & Similar Words

• fidget
• toss
• twitch
• jerk
• squirm
• twist
• wiggle
• jig
• jiggle
• shake
• writhe
• tremble
• shiver
• wriggle
• thrash
• thresh
• flit
• squiggle
• flutter
• quiver
• shudder
• quake
• pace
• twitter

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• rest
• relax
• unwind
• calm (down)
• still

2

as in to cheat

to rob by the use of trickery or threats

conscienceless grifters who had spent their lives fiddling the naive

Synonyms & Similar Words

• cheat
• squeeze
• pluck
• stick
• hustle
• screw
• beat
• sting
• do
• diddle
• trick
• bleed
• shake down
• deceive
• swindle
• euchre
• sucker
• stiff
• rip off
• short
• skin
• chouse
• chisel
• con
• defraud
• gaff
• victimize
• rook
• fleece
• nobble
• ream
• mulct
• exploit
• flimflam
• shortchange
• bilk
• cozen
• take for a ride
• fool
• hose
• skunk
• thimblerig
• wrench
• take to the cleaners
• clip
• sell a bill of goods to
• betray
• do in
• extort
• wring
• soak
• nick
• gouge
• milk
• wrest
• bitch
• gull
• rope (in)
• overcharge
• dupe
• double-cross
• bamboozle
• fast-talk

fiddle

2 of 2

noun

ˈfi-dᵊl 

1

as in nuts

language, behavior, or ideas that are absurd and contrary to good sense

oh, fiddle! I've heard that excuse a thousand times before

Synonyms & Similar Words

• nuts
• nonsense
• garbage
• jazz
• drool
• rubbish
• blah
• silliness
• stupidity
• muck
• beans
• bunk
• fudge
• fiddlesticks
• punk
• blither
• absurdity
• trash
• blatherskite
• rot
• twaddle
• craziness
• guff
• foolishness
• claptrap
• insanity
• crock
• baloney
• trumpery
• fiddle-faddle
• madness
• bull
• flapdoodle
• folderol
• bosh
• applesauce
• hokum
• humbuggery
• taradiddle
• balderdash
• bilge
• malarkey
• blather
• absurdness
• bunkum
• blarney
• piffle
• hokeypokey
• hogwash
• tosh
• tommyrot
• moonshine
• drivel
• nerts
• horsefeathers
• poppycock
• codswallop
• hoodoo
• folly
• hooey
• humbug
• crapola
• flannel
• idiocy
• tomfoolery
• gas
• slush
• senselessness
• foolery
• kookiness
• monkey business
• greek
• inaneness
• rigmarole
• inanity
• lunacy
• imbecility
• hot air
• shenanigan(s)
• witlessness
• fatuity
• monkeyshine(s)
• hocus-pocus
• asininity
• double-talk
• hoity-toity

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• reasonableness
• rationality
• common sense
• sense
• horse sense
• sensibleness
• judgment
• levelheadedness
• wisdom
• reasonability
• discernment

2

as in scam

chiefly British an instance of the use of dishonest methods to acquire something of value

the e-mail was another one of those fiddles from some supposed millionaire seeking to transfer funds out of his country

Synonyms & Similar Words

• scam
• con
• fraud
• swindle
• shell game
• bunco
• scheme
• trick
• device
• flimflam
• sting
• hoax
• hustle
• cross
• jig
• racket
• fix
• pyramid scheme
• Ponzi scheme
• counterfeit
• dodge
• wile
• soaking
• stratagem
• forgery
• gouging
• ploy
• fake
• thimblerig
• gimmick
• three-card monte
• sham
• rip-off
• sleight
• phony
• overcharging
• humbug

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of fiddle

Verb

These are sophisticated push-button machines designed to take the faff and fiddle out of making good coffee at home—anything for an easy life. — Chris Haslam, Wired News, 8 May 2026

The contract model means that when Congress fiddles, it isn’t impacted. — The Editorial Board, Oc Register, 22 Mar. 2026

Noun

According to Hancock, rubber trees are more forgiving of low light than fiddle leaf figs, and their thick, substantial leaves don’t drop as easily when the plant is stressed. — Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Sep. 2026

The hour captures Strings and his four-piece acoustic band — mandolin, upright bass, banjo and fiddle — in classic picking session formation, with a setlist that also includes selections from 2021’s Renewal. — Spin Staff, SPIN, 18 Sep. 2026

Phrases Containing fiddle

• fiddle (around)
• fiddle (with)
• fiddle away