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
Stephen Findeisen, a YouTuber with more than 4 million subscribers who goes by Coffeezilla online and investigates internet scams, said the motivation behind appealing to young users is the possibility of gaining loyal, long-term customers.
—
Kaitlyn Huamani, Fortune, 28 May 2026
Requests for payment via gift cards or Bitcoin are a clear sign of a scam, the Sheriff's Office said.
—Steven Yablonski, CBS News, 28 May 2026
The bill requires banks to report to police any possible financial exploitation of an adult who is at least 70 years of age or may be susceptible to scams.
—Seth Klamann, Denver Post, 28 May 2026
Deepfakes are especially common in romance scams.
—Miranda Marquit, Encyclopedia Britannica, 28 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for scam
Kaitlyn Huamani, Fortune, 28 May 2026
Requests for payment via gift cards or Bitcoin are a clear sign of a scam, the Sheriff's Office said.
—Steven Yablonski, CBS News, 28 May 2026
The bill requires banks to report to police any possible financial exploitation of an adult who is at least 70 years of age or may be susceptible to scams.
—Seth Klamann, Denver Post, 28 May 2026
Deepfakes are especially common in romance scams.
—Miranda Marquit, Encyclopedia Britannica, 28 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for scam
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scam
Noun
-
Americans for Prosperity sponsored a striking display in the DECC’s Pioneer Hall, demonstrating the scale of the state’s fraud losses with faux $100 bills stacked in volumes that would total $2 billion.—
Jay Gabler,
Twin Cities,
30 May 2026
-
The authors then matched high-fraud ZIP codes to areas with fast-appreciating home prices.—
Tristan Bove,
Fortune,
29 May 2026
Noun
-
In a case pending in federal court in Oakland, California, three Facebook users allege that the company profits from online swindles at the expense of users.—
David Ingram,
NBC news,
12 May 2026
-
Supporting characters add to the plot, as Chance needs help from his former crew, most of whom have gone straight but can’t resist the lure of the swindle.—
Oline H. Cogdill,
Sun Sentinel,
28 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Distrust and violence flare in the Democratic Republic of Congo as rumors spread that the outbreak — and the disease itself — is a hoax.—
Rael Ombuor,
Washington Post,
27 May 2026
-
From a qualifications level, among other things, Vein pointed out Pratt’s financial challenges as well as Pratt’s association with Alex Jones, the conspiracy theorist who was found liable to parents for a conspiracy theory that the Sandy Hook massacre was a hoax.—
Ted Johnson,
Deadline,
24 May 2026
Noun
-
There are alligators aplenty in this area, and rumor has it that one likes to sun near the cottages in the high 20s—I'll leave it up to you to decide if that's a pro or a con.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 June 2026
-
Martinez disagrees with Crookes’ assertion that the device’s benefits outweigh its cons.—
O. Rose Broderick,
STAT,
1 June 2026
Noun
-
Rozier was arrested in October along with former NBA player Damon Jones, who pleaded guilty last month for his role in schemes to defraud major sportsbooks including DraftKings and FanDuel.—
Rebecca Boone,
Fortune,
29 May 2026
-
The storage scheme is no slouch, either.—
John Burek,
PC Magazine,
29 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Scam.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scam. Accessed 2 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
