1
as in scams
an instance of the use of dishonest methods to acquire something of value
thousands of people lost money when the investment scheme turned out to be a fraud
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in fakes
one who makes false claims of identity or expertise
the "blind" panhandler was just a fraud trying to con holiday shoppers out of their money
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of frauds
Once recruited, victims were allegedly forced to conduct romance scams, fake cryptocurrency investment schemes and other online frauds targeting victims abroad.
—
Dylan Butts, CNBC, 16 Feb. 2026
The frauds have grown nearly in lockstep with the growth of the industry.
—Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 11 Jan. 2026
There is absolutely no evidence that frauds of this type or anywhere near this scale are happening in any of the other four states, or frankly that there is a large volume of as-yet-undiscovered fraud in Minnesota itself.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 7 Jan. 2026
Wolchek's on-air specialty is exposing scams and frauds in the Motor City region.
—Julie Hinds, Freep.com, 16 Dec. 2025
Although scammers and frauds have infiltrated the world of social enterprise, legit companies can be uplifting for all involved.
—Greg Mellen, Oc Register, 28 Nov. 2025
He was arrested in 2022 for an eight-count indictment charging him with the 2016 murder of his mother, Linda Carman, on the high seas, and related frauds to obtain family and insurance funds.
—Lea Veloso, StyleCaster, 21 Nov. 2025
Satire is brilliant for exposing the folly of humans, especially those in power and those working in bad faith—the hypocrites and the frauds—and can be particularly potent when set in irrational or dystopic times.
—Literary Hub, 5 Nov. 2025
Notice how these two Third World frauds are in federal custody, not state.
—Howie Carr, Boston Herald, 24 Oct. 2025
Dylan Butts, CNBC, 16 Feb. 2026
The frauds have grown nearly in lockstep with the growth of the industry.
—Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 11 Jan. 2026
There is absolutely no evidence that frauds of this type or anywhere near this scale are happening in any of the other four states, or frankly that there is a large volume of as-yet-undiscovered fraud in Minnesota itself.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 7 Jan. 2026
Wolchek's on-air specialty is exposing scams and frauds in the Motor City region.
—Julie Hinds, Freep.com, 16 Dec. 2025
Although scammers and frauds have infiltrated the world of social enterprise, legit companies can be uplifting for all involved.
—Greg Mellen, Oc Register, 28 Nov. 2025
He was arrested in 2022 for an eight-count indictment charging him with the 2016 murder of his mother, Linda Carman, on the high seas, and related frauds to obtain family and insurance funds.
—Lea Veloso, StyleCaster, 21 Nov. 2025
Satire is brilliant for exposing the folly of humans, especially those in power and those working in bad faith—the hypocrites and the frauds—and can be particularly potent when set in irrational or dystopic times.
—Literary Hub, 5 Nov. 2025
Notice how these two Third World frauds are in federal custody, not state.
—Howie Carr, Boston Herald, 24 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for frauds
Noun
-
How to avoid stimulus check scams As plans for any forthcoming checks remain unclear, stimulus scams have become so widespread that the IRS has cautioned the public to stay vigilant.—
Cheyenne Derksen,
Oklahoman,
20 Feb. 2026
-
Keep your items close and protected The amount of local scams and pickpockets in many European cities is a constant issue for travelers.—
Jillian Dara,
Travel + Leisure,
20 Feb. 2026
Noun
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In a world where there are more and more deep fakes and questions about what content represents, this project – and football itself – taps into something real.—
John Hopewell,
Variety,
17 Feb. 2026
-
The overwhelming motive for the early fakes was to provide entertainment — about three-quarters of the images in the exhibition were created for this purpose, Rooseboom said.—
Lianne Kolirin,
CNN Money,
5 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The package includes a quilt and two pillow shams.—
Abigail Wilt,
Southern Living,
19 Feb. 2026
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Ralph Lauren’s Valeria Euro shams are a welcome contrast to the light and airy bedding seen elsewhere on this list.—
Shoko Wanger,
Architectural Digest,
19 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The Cult of the Beaver has to fend off pretenders.—
AJ Willingham,
AJC.com,
13 Jan. 2026
-
Momentum hardens, vulnerabilities are exposed and the gap between contenders and pretenders is out in the open.—
Clayton Davis,
Variety,
7 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Carl Sagan's baloney detection kit taught us how to separate good science from the work of charlatans.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
10 Feb. 2026
-
First up was Ben Shapiro, who described Tucker Carlson and others as grifters and charlatans, guilty of misleading their audiences with falsehoods and conspiracy theories.—
Jonathan J. Cooper,
Fortune,
19 Dec. 2025
Noun
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To tell the truly venomous from the fakers, there are a couple details to help distinguish the two.—
Kirsten Fiscus,
Nashville Tennessean,
17 Sep. 2025
Noun
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According to the Federal Trade Commission, imposters posing as government agencies were one of the top reported scams in the Arizona, costing consumers more than $20 million in 2025.—
Miguel Torres,
AZCentral.com,
26 Jan. 2026
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And when stuck in this uncomfortable space, people who feel like impostors are likely to become defensive and feel pressured to be a hero.—
John M. LaVelle,
The Conversation,
9 Dec. 2025
Noun
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But let’s circle back to TV‘s patron saint of affable, oft–insidious quacks.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
16 Dec. 2025
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Automatic ducking doesn't add quacks to your soundtrack.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
15 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Frauds.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/frauds. Accessed 25 Feb. 2026.
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