as in fraud
an instance of the use of dishonest methods to acquire something of value
that's just a scam to bilk insurance companies for staged accidents
Synonyms & Similar 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 scam
Pump the brakes — that's likely another scam.
—
Kat Boogaard, CNBC, 3 Oct. 2025
In one of many tonally jarring subplots, Vince works out a scam to burn down his dead mother’s house in Brooklyn to collect the insurance money with the help of a corrupt fire marshal.
—Andrew Bernard, The Washington Examiner, 3 Oct. 2025
As online fundraisers are surfacing, Grand Blanc Township Police Chief William Renye said people looking to support the victims should be careful of scams looking to take advantage of people eager to donate.
—Natalie Davies, Freep.com, 3 Oct. 2025
After focusing in the last couple of months on the protection of minors, online shopping and election integrity, tackling financial scams would be a new priority under the DSA, Virkkunen said.
—Jonathan M. Gitlin, ArsTechnica, 23 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for scam
Kat Boogaard, CNBC, 3 Oct. 2025
In one of many tonally jarring subplots, Vince works out a scam to burn down his dead mother’s house in Brooklyn to collect the insurance money with the help of a corrupt fire marshal.
—Andrew Bernard, The Washington Examiner, 3 Oct. 2025
As online fundraisers are surfacing, Grand Blanc Township Police Chief William Renye said people looking to support the victims should be careful of scams looking to take advantage of people eager to donate.
—Natalie Davies, Freep.com, 3 Oct. 2025
After focusing in the last couple of months on the protection of minors, online shopping and election integrity, tackling financial scams would be a new priority under the DSA, Virkkunen said.
—Jonathan M. Gitlin, ArsTechnica, 23 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for scam
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scam
Noun
-
The law lowers daily transaction minimums, increases warnings on the kiosks, requires transaction receipts and requires Bitcoin ATM operators to issue refunds to victims of fraud, the release states.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
4 Oct. 2025
-
Other senior officials opted to leave, including the bureau’s top fraud expert, cryptanalyst and skyjacking expert, and the head of its Crime Information Center.—
Douglas M. Charles,
The Conversation,
3 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Frauds, swindles, cons, scams, and deceptions — collectively known as hoaxes.—
Scott Neuman,
NPR,
1 Oct. 2025
-
Originally from Oklahoma, Findley had moved to southwest Missouri not long before the Graceland swindle began, and was using aliases that included the name Naussany to harass and threaten local business owners.—
Jon Schuppe,
NBC news,
23 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Frauds, swindles, cons, scams, and deceptions — collectively known as hoaxes.—
Scott Neuman,
NPR,
1 Oct. 2025
-
These guys came into my office, told me that there was nothing to the Russia hoax in February of 2017.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
28 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
In addition, TVLine will be on the ground at the ‘con, getting all the scoop direct from your Bravo faves.—
Kimberly Roots,
TVLine,
30 Sep. 2025
-
The pros and cons of sparse attention An AI model makes decisions based on its training data and new information, such as a prompt.—
Tasmin Lockwood,
CNBC,
30 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Rosenzweig worked on dozens of complex cases as a prosecutor in the economic crimes section, which focuses on healthcare fraud, money laundering and other financial schemes.—
Jay Weaver,
Miami Herald,
3 Oct. 2025
-
The Lions’ surprisingly poor showing against their NFC North rivals kneecapped CBS’ deliveries, although the Eye Network also didn’t get much of a lift from the new BDP scheme.—
Anthony Crupi,
Sportico.com,
3 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Scam.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scam. Accessed 6 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share