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flimflams 1 of 2

noun

plural of flimflam
1
as in ruses
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 scams
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

flimflams

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of flimflam
as in cheats
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

Recent Examples of Synonyms for flimflams
  1. ruses
  2. scams
  3. cheats
  4. schemes
  5. frauds
  6. squeezes
  7. devices
  8. stings
Noun
  • There’s a delightful secret history of Hollywood directors whose ruses and stratagems bought them an unusual amount of leeway with their scripts.
    — Richard Brody, New Yorker, 5 Aug. 2026
  • Even before pro-party AI ruses were possible, the Chinese government and its supporters flooded social media with pro-China propaganda and vicious attacks on critics.
    — Michael Schuman, The Atlantic, 7 July 2026
Definition of ruses
Noun
  • Victims have lost tens of billions to scams carried out by hundreds of thousands of people forced to keep the schemes going.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 23 Sep. 2026
  • 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, 23 Sep. 2026
Definition of scams
Verb
  • Any forward who cheats for defence, as Ryan Nugent-Hopkins has for much of his career, will play an elevated role on a Babcock team.
    — Allan Mitchell, New York Times, 26 June 2026
  • Though Lesnar rarely cheats to win, Femi isn’t going to lose clean.
    — Blake Oestriecher, Forbes.com, 31 May 2026
Definition of cheats
Noun
  • Dak Prescott also didn’t seem to know how to figure out the new Giants schemes.
    — OutKick, FOXNews.com, 20 Sep. 2026
  • Americans have been suckered by fraudsters so bold that their schemes are now part of everyday speech.
    — Jonathan Fahey, Los Angeles Times, 18 Sep. 2026
Definition of schemes
Noun
  • These frauds hate Sweeney because of some MAGA hat at a party like four years ago.
    — Joe Kinsey OutKick, FOXNews.com, 15 Sep. 2026
  • In 2018, Modi was accused by Indian authorities of orchestrating one of the country’s largest bank frauds in modern history.
    — Rhea Mogul, CNN Money, 9 Aug. 2026
Definition of frauds
Verb
  • That means if a trade war squeezes household spending, disrupts supply chains or generates ill will among local constituencies, there’s a chance the NHL (and at least 10 clubs) feels the pinch.
    — Rick Burton, Sportico.com, 18 Sep. 2026
  • People’s financial margin for error is generally pretty small, and just the rising cost of most everything just squeezes them more and more.
    — Paul Wiseman, Los Angeles Times, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of squeezes
Noun
  • Underwater solar power The researchers were looking to ways to power up underwater sensors, cameras, detectors, communication systems and other such devices using solar energy.
    — Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 21 Sep. 2026
  • Before your treatment, find out what products and devices will be used, the recovery process, and potential complications.
    — Anna Haines, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 Sep. 2026
Definition of devices
Verb
  • The pain of losing Hollywood actor Heath Ledger nearly 20 years ago still stings for his on-screen Dark Knight family.
    — Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 11 Sep. 2026
  • There is a feeling of humiliation that stings long after an event has passed.
    — Wilbert L. Cooper, Longreads, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of stings
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.

Browse Nearby Words

flimflamming
flimflams
flimsiness
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Cite this Entry

“Flimflams.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flimflams. Accessed 25 Sep. 2026.

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