Synonyms of fleece

fleece 1 of 2

noun

ˈflēs 

as in wool

the hairy covering of a mammal especially when fine, soft, and thick

learning how to shear the fleece off a sheep

Synonyms & Similar Words

• wool
• hair
• coat
• jacket
• fur
• pile
• pelage
• skin
• leather
• pelt
• undercoat
• underfur
• hide

fleece

2 of 2

verb

as in to cheat

to rob by the use of trickery or threats

swindlers who use the telephone to fleece senior citizens out of their savings

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of fleece

Noun

As such, covering plants with blankets or several layers of horticultural fleece is recommended when weather reports predict extreme cold. — Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 24 July 2026

As laundry professional Melia Long explains, cotton, fleece, and other garments that shed lint can damage your cleaning cloths. — Rae Ford, Martha Stewart, 26 June 2026

Verb

Detective John Bolden, 47, a 20-year NYPD veteran who retired from the force in October, schemed to fleece the federal Paycheck Protection Program, which offered loans to small businesses forced to close or at risk of closing during the COVID pandemic. — John Annese, New York Daily News, 3 June 2026

The lesson from the parking deal is not merely that the city got fleeced by private investors. — Chicago Tribune, 28 May 2026