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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of scam
Older residents in our community lost more than $130 million to scams in one year.
—
Summer Stephan, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 Oct. 2025
The Scam Survival Toolkit provides a personalized recovery plan and to restore a person’s financial and mental well-being after being targeted by a scam.
—Tamia Fowlkes, jsonline.com, 9 Oct. 2025
Data from the commission show from 2020 to 2023, consumers lost more than $110 million in scams involving Bitcoin ATMs.
—Arkansas Online, 4 Oct. 2025
Instead, Billy cheats on her and Gavin keeps doubling down on their scam, which gives the movie’s second half its jittery momentum.
—Jessica Kiang, Variety, 4 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for scam
Summer Stephan, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 Oct. 2025
The Scam Survival Toolkit provides a personalized recovery plan and to restore a person’s financial and mental well-being after being targeted by a scam.
—Tamia Fowlkes, jsonline.com, 9 Oct. 2025
Data from the commission show from 2020 to 2023, consumers lost more than $110 million in scams involving Bitcoin ATMs.
—Arkansas Online, 4 Oct. 2025
Instead, Billy cheats on her and Gavin keeps doubling down on their scam, which gives the movie’s second half its jittery momentum.
—Jessica Kiang, Variety, 4 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for scam
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scam
Noun
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If convicted of bank fraud or making false statements, the penalties could include up to 30 years in prison and $1 million in fines for each count, the DOJ says.—
Deputy News Editor,
MSNBC Newsweek,
11 Oct. 2025
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Anna Moneymaker | Getty Images A federal grand jury in Virginia last night indicted New York Attorney General Letitia James on charges of bank fraud and making false statements to a financial institution.—
Alex Harring,
CNBC,
10 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Frauds, swindles, cons, scams, and deceptions — collectively known as hoaxes.—
Scott Neuman,
NPR,
1 Oct. 2025
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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
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This isn’t the first time this hoax has gone viral on X, with one user sharing footage that appeared to show a Christ statue being installed in front of the White House on February 15.—
James Bickerton,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Oct. 2025
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Frauds, swindles, cons, scams, and deceptions — collectively known as hoaxes.—
Scott Neuman,
NPR,
1 Oct. 2025
Noun
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On that note, the growth of artificial intelligence tools — the pros, the cons and the unknowns — are certain to be a theme of Mipcom.—
Cynthia Littleton,
Variety,
10 Oct. 2025
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Tracking the cons Victims of scams tend to be hesitant to come forward because of the shame that comes with being taken for a ride.—
Katherine Laidlaw,
HubSpot,
10 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Cornerback Jourdan Lewis has been playing at a high level, but Tyson Campbell didn’t look like a scheme fit, which might explain why he was recently traded along with a seventh-round pick for Greg Newsome and a sixth-round pick from the Cleveland Browns.—
Ted Nguyen,
New York Times,
11 Oct. 2025
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Other rural regions of Italy have had similar experiences and also launched similar schemes over the last several years with the goal of boosting development and combating depopulation.—
Kathleen Wong,
USA Today,
10 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Scam.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scam. Accessed 18 Oct. 2025.
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