as in scams
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 Nigerian millionaire seeking to transfer funds out of his country
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
1
as in fidgets
to make jerky or restless movements
the executive fiddled with a pen as she impatiently waited for the meeting to begin
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in plucks
to rob by the use of trickery or threats
conscienceless grifters who had spent their lives fiddling the naive
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of fiddles
Carlie Procell, USA Today, 18 Feb. 2026
The film's soundtrack carries on that way throughout, showing the boundless energy of hardscrabble, down-to-their-last-dime people via fifes, fiddles, and harps.
—Alex Galbraith, Entertainment Weekly, 15 Feb. 2026
Many musical instruments, particularly hollow wooden ones like acoustic guitars and fiddles, as well as pianos, are susceptible to damage from temperature and humidity fluctuations.
—Margaret Littman, Rolling Stone, 10 Feb. 2026
Make sure to go on a night when the Moondogs bluegrass band is performing with washboards and fiddles.
—Megan Margulies, Travel + Leisure, 11 Oct. 2025
Country exists in two realities at once — the fiddles-and-steel-guitar traditionalists on one side and glossy crossovers on the other.
—Kevin Dolak, HollywoodReporter, 1 Oct. 2025
Over a mashup of fiddles and guitars, Tod and Jennings blend their rough-hewn voices on a song about consequences for older vices and choices, pondering when the consequences of those actions outweigh the vices themselves.
—Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 29 Sep. 2025
The Editorial Board, Oc Register, 22 Mar. 2026
Meanwhile, Congress fiddles while structural defects in Medicare and Social Security threaten to engulf the programs.
—Editorial, Boston Herald, 12 Oct. 2025
Noun
Live musicians will play, usually country or Cajun French music, featuring instruments like accordions and fiddles.
—Carlie Procell, USA Today, 18 Feb. 2026
The film's soundtrack carries on that way throughout, showing the boundless energy of hardscrabble, down-to-their-last-dime people via fifes, fiddles, and harps.
—Alex Galbraith, Entertainment Weekly, 15 Feb. 2026
Many musical instruments, particularly hollow wooden ones like acoustic guitars and fiddles, as well as pianos, are susceptible to damage from temperature and humidity fluctuations.
—Margaret Littman, Rolling Stone, 10 Feb. 2026
Make sure to go on a night when the Moondogs bluegrass band is performing with washboards and fiddles.
—Megan Margulies, Travel + Leisure, 11 Oct. 2025
Country exists in two realities at once — the fiddles-and-steel-guitar traditionalists on one side and glossy crossovers on the other.
—Kevin Dolak, HollywoodReporter, 1 Oct. 2025
Over a mashup of fiddles and guitars, Tod and Jennings blend their rough-hewn voices on a song about consequences for older vices and choices, pondering when the consequences of those actions outweigh the vices themselves.
—Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 29 Sep. 2025
Verb
The contract model means that when Congress fiddles, it isn’t impacted.
—The Editorial Board, Oc Register, 22 Mar. 2026
Meanwhile, Congress fiddles while structural defects in Medicare and Social Security threaten to engulf the programs.
—Editorial, Boston Herald, 12 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fiddles
Noun
-
For simple, real-world ways to spot scams early and stay protected, visit trusted by millions who watch CyberGuy on TV daily.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
19 June 2026
-
Text message scams are increasingly rife.—
David Phelan,
Forbes.com,
19 June 2026
Verb
-
The man fidgets, shifts around in his seat and fixates on Zarutska before pulling out a small knife and striking her multiple times around her neck.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
His torso and thighs grow eye-poppingly muscular beneath their skimpy fur-and-leather togs—a development that does not go unnoticed by a warrior named Red Hair, who plucks the young hunk from his post and tosses him into the prime time of the gladiator pit.—
Naomi Fry,
New Yorker,
15 June 2026
-
But the emotional gravity of this offering's deeply personal, melancholic lyrical content plucks an undeniably profound chord that uniquely separates it from the rest of his work.—
Chris Barilla,
PEOPLE,
29 May 2026
Noun
-
Bankman-Fried was convicted of masterminding one of the largest financial frauds in history stemming from the collapse of the crypto-exchange FTX.—
Aaron Katersky,
ABC News,
12 June 2026
-
Uwanawich is accused of helping Evans, who had been previously convicted of similar frauds in Texas and Florida, by managing the bank accounts tied to the scheme, selling gold coins, transferring and spending the proceeds from the frauds, authorities said.—
Lillie Davidson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
11 June 2026
Verb
-
The unanimous appeals court decision tosses a February district court ruling that ordered the National Parks Service (NPS) to restore the panels that were removed from the site.—
Deena Zaru,
ABC News,
18 June 2026
-
His torso and thighs grow eye-poppingly muscular beneath their skimpy fur-and-leather togs—a development that does not go unnoticed by a warrior named Red Hair, who plucks the young hunk from his post and tosses him into the prime time of the gladiator pit.—
Naomi Fry,
New Yorker,
15 June 2026
Verb
-
Though Lesnar rarely cheats to win, Femi isn’t going to lose clean.—
Blake Oestriecher,
Forbes.com,
31 May 2026
-
Five average players committed to protecting the middle of the ice are more effective than four great ones and one who cheats for offence.—
Murat Ates,
New York Times,
8 May 2026
Verb
-
Persistent muscle twitches Everyone’s muscles twitch from time to time, usually at various locations.—
Angela Haupt,
Time,
15 Jan. 2026
-
Some devices, for example, track eye movements or other small muscle twitches to let users select words from a screen.—
Emma R. Hasson,
Scientific American,
14 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
View gallery - 10 images Intended for full-time living, the Porto squeezes a lot into its modest footprint.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
8 June 2026
-
Even Zach Cherry squeezes plenty from his part as the dealership’s manager, who grows loudly resentful when Nate seems more emotionally invested in his biological children than coworkers.—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
27 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Fiddles.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fiddles. Accessed 21 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
