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

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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 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 Despite the political shell games being played by liberal Democrats, the media and even some Republicans, much of President Trump’s policy agenda has broad public support and is largely on track to succeed if enacted. —

Steve Forbes, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for shell game

Recent Examples of Synonyms for shell game

scam

Noun

Court records in both the federal criminal case and Bonta’s civil suit alleged the scam began as early as 2014 and ended in August 2023, shortly after Voice of San Diego first exposed the scheme publicly in a series of stories.

— Alex Riggins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Mar. 2026
Phone scams continue to evolve and appear more believable.

— Susan Tompor, Freep.com, 26 Mar. 2026