as in Ponzi scheme
Related Words
Relevance
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of pyramid scheme
The Tuesday release highlighted an incident with Cambodian users urging people to enlist in a rent-a-scooter pyramid scheme with an initial text message generated by ChatGPT.
—
Ashleigh Fields, The Hill, 6 Aug. 2025
These scammers lured their targets with various offers, from cryptocurrency investments to pyramid schemes, and operated mainly out of Southeast Asia.
—PC Magazine, 6 Aug. 2025
Scams that often exploit financial literacy gaps and market scams, such as pyramid schemes, gifting circles or unregulated crypto programs, as opportunities for fast-track wealth.
—Alejandra Rojas, Forbes.com, 14 July 2025
After regulators investigated the business for allegedly being a pyramid scheme, Raniere didn't admit wrongdoing but settled for $40,000.
—Jessica Sager, People.com, 19 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for pyramid scheme
Ashleigh Fields, The Hill, 6 Aug. 2025
These scammers lured their targets with various offers, from cryptocurrency investments to pyramid schemes, and operated mainly out of Southeast Asia.
—PC Magazine, 6 Aug. 2025
Scams that often exploit financial literacy gaps and market scams, such as pyramid schemes, gifting circles or unregulated crypto programs, as opportunities for fast-track wealth.
—Alejandra Rojas, Forbes.com, 14 July 2025
After regulators investigated the business for allegedly being a pyramid scheme, Raniere didn't admit wrongdoing but settled for $40,000.
—Jessica Sager, People.com, 19 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for pyramid scheme
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pyramid scheme
Noun
-
McPhee instead used incoming money to make the 3% payouts to prior investors, a form of fraud called a Ponzi scheme.—
Logan Smith,
CBS News,
28 Dec. 2025
-
All of this fueled fresh attacks from Saylor’s critics who say Strategy’s unusual business model, which revolves around selling stock to buy Bitcoin, is unsustainable or even a Ponzi scheme.—
Jeff John Roberts,
Fortune,
3 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
Cyrus, a beloved gay icon, was a smart choice and seemed ready to play along with Kenworthy’s shell game.—
Gil Kaufman,
Billboard,
27 Jan. 2026
-
The grand jury’s focus was the shell game played with $10 million that rightfully belonged to the Florida Medicaid program.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
23 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pyramid scheme.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pyramid%20scheme. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
