1
as in ruse
a clever often underhanded means to achieve an end
giving the new guy at work her cell phone number—"in case of an emergency"—was just a flimflam to pique his romantic interest
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in scam
an instance of the use of dishonest methods to acquire something of value
just the latest Internet flimflam to get e-mail recipients to reveal bank account numbers and other personal information
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in to cheat
to rob by the use of trickery or threats
everyone likes to think that they're too smart to be flimflammed by anyone
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of flimflam
Osita Nwanevu, The New Republic, 5 Feb. 2021
Might that statement actually be a bit of protective flimflam?
—Michael Dirda, Washington Post, 26 Feb. 2020
Mark Z. Barabak, Los Angeles Times, 10 Oct. 2023
See All Example Sentences for flimflam
Noun
Instead, Democrats should present voters with a material choice between a party that has nothing to offer the majority of Americans but abuse and conspiratorial flimflam and a party committed to building a democracy and an economy that work for all.
—Osita Nwanevu, The New Republic, 5 Feb. 2021
Might that statement actually be a bit of protective flimflam?
—Michael Dirda, Washington Post, 26 Feb. 2020
Verb
But liars like Kari Lake, who lost a bid for Arizona governor by parroting former President Trump’s falsehoods and hopes now to flimflam her way to a Senate seat, are only the most visible threat to our system of democracy.
—Mark Z. Barabak, Los Angeles Times, 10 Oct. 2023
See All Example Sentences for flimflam
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flimflam
Noun
-
The police investigation that followed included surveillance and a ruse where investigators answered local prostitution ads and were directed to the home.—
Nate Gartrell,
Mercury News,
16 June 2025
-
But this ruse is like the broader trans movement itself, which obliges you to deny the evidence dangling before your own eyes.—
The Editors,
National Review,
4 June 2025
Noun
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This protection covers a wide range of scams, including toll road and billing fee scams, cryptocurrency scams, financial impersonation scams, gift card and prize scams, tech support scams, and more.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
18 June 2025
-
Tyler Perry's lawyer accuses Derek Dixon of 'setting up a scam' Perry's lawyer denied the allegations in a statement shared with USA TODAY.—
KiMi Robinson,
USA Today,
18 June 2025
Verb
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Iran's response: cheating and hiding its nuclear weapons program; sprinting toward a bomb; and trying to assassinate senior American officials, including President Trump.—
Shane Croucher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
13 June 2025
-
Trouble is, the elder Broadway managed to cheat St. Christopher out of his share of the plunder.—
Joe Leydon,
Variety,
13 June 2025
Noun
-
While Google displays only the scheme and host name of the site the ad links to (for instance, https://www.microsoft.com), the ad appends parameters to the path to the right of that address.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
18 June 2025
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Several officers who either pleaded guilty or were convicted by a jury for their role in the corruption scheme had their felony convictions tossed out in favor of misdemeanors amid allegations of prosecutorial misconduct.—
Alex Riggins,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
18 June 2025
Noun
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Criminals that are able to gain access to passwords put up for sale on the dark web are able to use them for identify theft, fraud, and even blackmail.—
Theo Burman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
20 June 2025
-
The government push comes despite a Senate probe in May that revealed the labor program was fraught with problems including the commercial exploitation of job seekers, fraud, and poor working conditions overseas.—
Martin K.N Siele,
semafor.com,
20 June 2025
Verb
-
So the Marian commit hustled home on junior left fielder Nevaeh Rangel’s flyout in the ninth inning, trying to break a scoreless tie.—
Michael Osipoff,
Chicago Tribune,
14 June 2025
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Related Stories Kim Novak to Be Honored at Venice Film Festival With Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement Based on true events, the romantic thriller will follow three friends, Goldie (Grey), Blake (Fodé), and Angel (Lysette), who must hustle through the night on the streets of Tenderloin.—
Giana Levy,
Variety,
13 June 2025
Noun
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However, there is a trick for using both of these operations together.—
Paul Smith-Goodson,
Forbes.com,
10 June 2025
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Thalberg was a wunderkind, and one of the tricks of being a wunderkind is to leverage a youthful aura—selling the Kind to increase the Wunder.—
Adam Gopnik,
New Yorker,
9 June 2025
Verb
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What to know: Free to enter; no lifeguards or facilities and the salty water can sting cuts or irritate sensitive skin.—
Allison Palmer,
Sacbee.com,
17 June 2025
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The Atlanta Braves have won consecutive series since dropping six in a row, though losing Sunday’s series finale to the Rockies despite Grant Holmes’ 15 strikeouts stung.—
Tim Britton,
New York Times,
16 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Flimflam.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flimflam. Accessed 25 Jun. 2025.
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