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
  • 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
  • Such offenders will use all different ruses to distract the victim, such as claiming to be utility workers, tree trimmers, or handymen working on neighbors' houses.
    — Adam Harrington, CBS News, 30 June 2026
Definition of ruses
Noun
  • And the guilt, shame and social stigma surrounding these crimes compounds the loneliness that propels so many victims into scams in the first place.
    — Juliet Linderman, Fortune, 16 July 2026
  • In recent weeks, agencies including the New York Department of State, Florida Bar and local police departments issued warnings about these scams.
    — Naisha Roy, ProPublica, 16 July 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
  • Manuel took over for Dave Brandon, a Domino’s Pizza executive who alienated a lot of Michigan fans with his slick marketing schemes.
    — Austin Meek, New York Times, 21 July 2026
  • She is also ordered to repay the victims of these schemes in full.
    — Alexa Newsom, Kansas City Star, 21 July 2026
Definition of schemes
Noun
  • Their only inheritance is a legacy of two-bit crime that inspires them to run increasingly audacious frauds.
    — Joe Otterson, Variety, 15 July 2026
  • Lowry, in the meantime, would embark on a two-decade career in a league that spits out frauds on the regular.
    — Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 8 July 2026
Definition of frauds
Verb
  • Ghiggia gallops in from the right and squeezes a finish in at the near post to win the cup for Uruguay in the Maracana.
    — Adam Hurrey, New York Times, 17 July 2026
  • As a result, food inflation squeezes the amount of money people have left over to buy things like Levi's jeans and plane tickets, which brings us to our next earnings preview.
    — Zev Fima,Kevin Stankiewicz, CNBC, 5 July 2026
Definition of squeezes
Noun
  • Sassa hopes the project will eventually yield advanced devices that can — much like living organisms — self-assemble, adapt to their surroundings, and autonomously repair themselves.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 20 July 2026
  • The sheriff urged the public to have safety devices like life vests on hand when gathering near bodies of water.
    — Louis Casiano, FOXNews.com, 20 July 2026
Definition of devices
Verb
  • That still stings, even if Wicky wasn’t one of the three to attempt a penalty.
    — Sam McDowell July 9, Kansas City Star, 9 July 2026
  • If feedback stings, take a breath, separate taste from task, and keep what improves the result.
    — Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 28 June 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 24 Jul. 2026.

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