scam

noun

ˈskam How to pronounce scam (audio)
Definition of scamnext
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

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 Cambodian lawmakers unanimously adopted a new law in March targeting online scam operations with sentences of up to life in prison, following a government pledge to shut down the centers by the end of April. — ABC News, 28 Aug. 2026 The full blog post breaks down the scam in detail, including how both the video and the website itself show signs of being AI-generated, along with a point-by-point explanation of how these kinds of scams work. — Alan Henry, PC Magazine, 28 Aug. 2026 In the ad, Hansen reportedly speaks directly to the audience and tells them to visit TruBlu, his streaming service featuring true-crime shows about scams and creeps. — Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 26 Aug. 2026 In New York, borrowers can report scams to the state's Department of Financial Services or attorney general's office. — Andreina Rodriguez, CNBC, 26 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for scam
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scam
  1. fraud
  2. swindle
  3. hoax
  4. con
  5. scheme
Noun
  • In six states, Medicare beneficiaries must get preapproval for a few treatments that CMS considers to have little clinical benefit and to be susceptible to fraud or waste, including skin substitutes and knee arthroscopy for arthritis.
    — Stephanie Armour, Miami Herald, 4 Sep. 2026
  • Bohm’s lawyers disagreed with this argument, citing a Supreme Court ruling stating fraud in the execution can occur when one party is mistaken about the terms due to the author’s fraud.
    — Charlotte Varnes, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of fraud
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
Definition of swindle
Noun
  • Wheatland police later described the incident as a hoax and said the department and Yuba County Sheriff’s Office were investigating its source.
    — Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 19 Aug. 2026
  • While Locke failed in that regard, his articles live on as one of the most famous media hoaxes.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of hoax
Noun
  • Rodney Ho talked to several couples who found lasting romance at the best con in the country.
    — AJ Willingham, AJC.com, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Pros & cons 5% cash back rewards on category of choice each month for **Chime Prime members.
    — Ryley Amond, CNBC, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of con
Noun
  • Smith, though, is still adjusting to coach Mike Macdonald’s defensive scheme.
    — Andrew Destin, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2026
  • The bigger those two factor primes are, conventional thinking goes, the harder their multiplication is to undo—a sentiment that has made RSA one of the world’s most popular encryption schemes since its debut nearly a half-century ago.
    — Peter Hall, Scientific American, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of scheme

Browse Nearby Words

scaly
scam
scammer
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Scam.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scam. Accessed 6 Sep. 2026.

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