Synonyms of fiddles

fiddles 1 of 2

noun

plural of fiddle

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

• scams
• frauds
• swindles
• hustles
• cons
• devices
• shell games
• stings
• schemes
• hoaxes
• tricks
• buncos
• flimflams
• crosses
• fixes
• jigs
• rackets
• dodges
• pyramid schemes
• Ponzi schemes
• counterfeits
• stratagems
• sleights
• forgeries
• wiles
• gimmicks
• fakes
• ploys
• rip-offs
• phonies
• thimblerigs
• three-card montes
• shams
• humbug

fiddles

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of fiddle

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

• fidgets
• tosses
• twitches
• squirms
• jerks
• twists
• wiggles
• writhes
• trembles
• shakes
• jiggles
• wriggles
• shivers
• jigs
• thrashes
• threshes
• quivers
• flutters
• flits
• squiggles
• shudders
• paces
• quakes
• twitters

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• rests
• relaxes
• unwinds
• calms (down)
• stills

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

• plucks
• cheats
• squeezes
• hustles
• stings
• beats
• sticks
• screws
• diddles
• does
• tricks
• bleeds
• swindles
• deceives
• suckers
• shorts
• gaffs
• reams
• bilks
• chisels
• defrauds
• victimizes
• rips off
• mulcts
• exploits
• skins
• shakes down
• rooks
• stiffs
• fleeces
• shortchanges
• cozens
• cons
• fools
• hoses
• chouses
• nobbles
• wrenches
• flimflams
• does in
• betrays
• thimblerigs
• skunks
• euchres
• clips
• takes to the cleaners
• extorts
• sells a bill of goods to
• takes for a ride
• gouges
• nicks
• wrings
• soaks
• milks
• wrests
• overcharges
• gulls
• dupes
• bitches
• bamboozles
• double-crosses
• ropes (in)
• fast-talks

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of fiddles

Noun

From late May through early September, weekly music jams with fiddles and banjos celebrate the area’s musical heritage. — Erin Gifford, Southern Living, 17 Sep. 2026

Grammy-winning husband-and-wife duo bring fiddles and holiday tunes to Florida. — Patrick Connolly, The Orlando Sentinel, 31 Aug. 2026

The Parton family was musical, and there were always banjos, fiddles, mandolins and guitars around the cabin. — Rj Smith, Los Angeles Times, 25 Aug. 2026

In addition to making fiddles and performing for decades at Missouri’s Silver Dollar City in Branson, Hensley made her Grand Ole Opry debut in 2016 at age 99, as seen in videos shared by the iconic venue. — Desiree Anello, PEOPLE, 8 Aug. 2026

And with fiddles, accordions, guitars and her current instrument of choice, the minstrel banjo. — Chris Willman, Variety, 25 June 2026

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

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