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
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
Noun
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Many suspect a spam call and don't pick up the phone, leading foundation staff to sometimes devise ruses.—
Kelly Meyerhofer,
jsonline.com,
8 Oct. 2025 -
Episode 4 finds both Ellen and Julia throwing themselves headlong into plans that require them to keep up major ruses.—
Kimberly Roots,
TVLine,
22 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Investigators say the same networks also operate large-scale text-message scams that feed the card-draining operations.—
Bloomberg News,
Boston Herald,
19 Oct. 2025
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This protection can also alert you to phishing emails and ransomware scams, keeping your personal information and digital assets safe.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
19 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The Clippers have one remaining preseason game, one more chance for Coach Tyronn Lue to get a look at what lineups and schemes might work before the regular season kicks off next week.—
Janis Carr,
Oc Register,
16 Oct. 2025
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Prosecutors accused Zhi of directly managing the compounds by maintaining records, including ledgers tracking profits and which schemes were operating from each room.—
Thao Nguyen,
USA Today,
15 Oct. 2025
Noun
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In the knee-jerk world of modern football, yesterday’s world-beaters are tomorrow’s frauds.—
James Pearce,
New York Times,
8 Oct. 2025
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This fan-favorite promotion returns after nearly 10 years away, having been shelved following the exposure of one of the biggest frauds in corporate marketing history.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
29 Sep. 2025
Verb
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And now, one such creation slithers, squeezes, and twists through the narrowest corners.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
16 Oct. 2025
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The surgeon withdraws the balloon and then squeezes the implant in through a sterile funnel before closing the incision.—
Jolene Edgar,
Allure,
15 Oct. 2025
Noun
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With natural, biodegradable, and inexpensive components, such batteries could one day provide an eco-friendly alternative for powering homes or small devices without relying on toxic metals or complex supply chains.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
16 Oct. 2025
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Officials suspect that three explosive devices were dropped in the parking lot.—
Alexandra Mendoza,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
16 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Even though the defeat stings, all the Hurricanes’ goals are still there for the taking.—
Jordan McPherson,
Miami Herald,
19 Oct. 2025
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But for Hovland, the lingering frustration of missing Sunday singles and watching Harris English sit out for no fault of his own still stings.—
Devlina Sarkar,
MSNBC Newsweek,
16 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The right plants and a few space-expanding tricks can transform your small-but-mighty green space.—
Miranda Crowell,
Better Homes & Gardens,
17 Oct. 2025
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Her father sat across from her, doing card tricks.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
17 Oct. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Flimflams.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flimflams. Accessed 22 Oct. 2025.
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