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
But Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed almost immediately veers off into wild subplots about murder, corruption, and corporate malfeasance, as if to emphasize that low-level romance scams are just the tip of the internet’s fetid iceberg.
—
Sophie Gilbert, The Atlantic, 20 May 2026
The Woodland Police Department alerted residents of a scam artist pretending to be a law enforcement officer, enticing the victim with official-looking documents.
—Corey Schmidt, Sacbee.com, 20 May 2026
Buyers should also be aware of any potential scams on resale websites.
—Joseph Hernandez, Kansas City Star, 20 May 2026
Paula records the assault on camera, takes it to the police — an officer played by Dolly de Leon dismisses it as an obvious scam — and then gets the inevitable ask for money from someone claiming to be his kidnapper.
—Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 20 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for scam
Sophie Gilbert, The Atlantic, 20 May 2026
The Woodland Police Department alerted residents of a scam artist pretending to be a law enforcement officer, enticing the victim with official-looking documents.
—Corey Schmidt, Sacbee.com, 20 May 2026
Buyers should also be aware of any potential scams on resale websites.
—Joseph Hernandez, Kansas City Star, 20 May 2026
Paula records the assault on camera, takes it to the police — an officer played by Dolly de Leon dismisses it as an obvious scam — and then gets the inevitable ask for money from someone claiming to be his kidnapper.
—Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 20 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for scam
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scam
Noun
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The arrest of a North Miami Beach condominium property manager in early April serves as a reminder for Florida condominium associations of the potential for fraud involving construction and renovation projects.—
Meily Perez,
Miami Herald,
22 May 2026
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Meanwhile, Minnesota seems to be the fraud capital these days.—
Rob Crilly,
The Washington Examiner,
22 May 2026
Noun
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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
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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
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All of the threats, including the one at Zoo Atlanta, turned out to be hoaxes.—
Dan Raby,
CBS News,
18 May 2026
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The case of Sherri Papini, the young woman who shocked the nation with a multi-year kidnapping hoax, has been the subject of multiple documentaries since her conviction in 2022.—
Mary Walrath-Holdridge,
USA Today,
15 May 2026
Noun
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Some voters' concerns were inflation, gas prices, and the pros and cons of the war in Iran.—
Joe Holden,
CBS News,
19 May 2026
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With no air-con and copious heat-soak through the rear bulkhead (the glass panel behind your head gets almost too hot to touch), driving it hard also feels like a physical workout.—
Tim Pitt,
Robb Report,
18 May 2026
Noun
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Season One of Off Campus centers hockey captain Garret Graham (Belmont Cameli) and music major Hannah Wells (Ella Bright), who start a mutually beneficial fake-dating scheme.—
CT Jones,
Rolling Stone,
22 May 2026
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Smartcards from this point on had much more powerful chips running much more powerful encryption schemes.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
22 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Scam.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scam. Accessed 23 May. 2026.
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