Thesaurus results for SHELL GAME

shell game

noun

as in scam

an instance of the use of dishonest methods to acquire something of value it's amazing how intelligent people fall for that investment-fund shell game

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 shell game The grand jury’s focus was the shell game played with $10 million that rightfully belonged to the Florida Medicaid program. —

Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 23 Jan. 2026 Nate Davis had some thoughts after McDermott was fired, writing that the NFL's coaching carousel has devolved into an absurd shell game. —

Jim Reineking, USA Today, 23 Jan. 2026 Expedia played a shell game with your money, wasted your time with useless chatbots and ignored paper trails. —

Christopher Elliott, Mercury News, 12 Jan. 2026 Budget shell games, in other words. —

The Editorial Board, Oc Register, 21 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for shell game

Recent Examples of Synonyms for shell game

scam

Noun

The whole story is wild to read, and proof that scams, both online and on your phone, are big business and can make big money.

— Alan Henry, PC Magazine, 29 May 2026
Scammers can create an AI replica of someone’s voice using a short recording of their speech — often pulled from social media or an earlier scam call that was surreptitiously recorded.

— CNN.com Wire Service, Mercury News, 29 May 2026