swindle 1 of 2

swindle

2 of 2

verb

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb swindle contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of swindle are cheat, cozen, and defraud. While all these words mean "to get something by dishonesty or deception," swindle implies large-scale cheating by misrepresentation or abuse of confidence.

swindled of their savings by con artists

When would cheat be a good substitute for swindle?

The words cheat and swindle are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, cheat suggests using trickery that escapes observation.

cheated me out of a dollar

When might cozen be a better fit than swindle?

The synonyms cozen and swindle are sometimes interchangeable, but cozen implies artful persuading or flattering to attain a thing or a purpose.

always able to cozen her grandfather out of a few dollars

When could defraud be used to replace swindle?

The meanings of defraud and swindle largely overlap; however, defraud stresses depriving one of his or her rights and usually connotes deliberate perversion of the truth.

defrauded of her inheritance by an unscrupulous lawyer

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 swindle
Noun
He was convicted of financial card fraud in 1990, theft by check twice in 1990, two counts of issuing a worthless check in 1994, theft by check in 1994, four counts of theft by swindle in October 2002 and one count two months later. Nick Ferraro, Twin Cities, 6 Feb. 2025 Justin Ansel Butler falsified documents to make the Duck Donuts franchises in Woodbury and the Mall of America look profitable, according to a criminal complaint filed Friday in Washington County District Court charging him with felony theft by swindle. Nick Ferraro, Twin Cities, 20 Jan. 2025
Verb
The investigation highlighted data from the California State Chancellor’s Office, which estimated a quarter of community college applicants were bots in 2024, and that the bot army swindled the state and federal government out of $13 million in student aid in the 12 months ending in April. Will McCurdy, PC Magazine, 20 Apr. 2025 On this week’s podcast, Mark Seal explains how amateur sleuths busted a multi-national cyber-scam April 12, 2025 This week, Mark Seal reveals the amateur detectives who busted a group of cyber-scammers who impersonated Brad Pitt and swindled a woman out of more than $850,000. Air Mail, 12 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for swindle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for swindle
Noun
  • This one click setting will enable the latest set of theft, fraud and scam defenses within calls and messages, disable higher risk networks, and mandate safe browsing and Play Protect.
    Zak Doffman, Forbes.com, 14 May 2025
  • Those eight winners included the phishing-centric Norton Genie scam detector as well as NordVPN and Surfshark, both of which primarily focus on VPN protection.
    PC Magazine, PC Magazine, 14 May 2025
Verb
  • Disgruntled attendees, many of them authors, said they felt cheated by event organizers, who failed to deliver on most, if not all fronts.
    Amaris Encinas, USA Today, 7 May 2025
  • In their stories about others, 92% chronicled how misfortune befell cheating partners, indebted friends, bullies and lousy coworkers.
    Kameryn Griesser, CNN Money, 1 May 2025
Verb
  • Custom Container Living View 8 Images Custom Container Living has transformed a shipping container into an ultra-compact tiny house that squeezes a home for two into just 160 sq ft (14.8 sq m).
    Adam Williams May 08, New Atlas, 8 May 2025
  • Officials hope that increased lending and spending will help ease deflationary pressures that have dragged down prices, squeezed company profits, and weakened consumer confidence.
    Micah McCartney, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 May 2025
Verb
  • Suarez is getting stung here and there, but the last two rounds the challenger is landing a bit cleaner.
    Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 10 May 2025
  • Additionally, getting stung by an Asian needle ant can be dangerous due to the life-threatening anaphylaxis that a sting can trigger.
    Lauren Thomann, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 May 2025
Verb
  • Adams plucked out Shakespeare’s lines and mounted them like gems in a finely wrought score.
    Justin Davidson, Vulture, 13 May 2025
  • Companies are still developing mining vehicles, but one method would be to use large tractor-sized machines that drive across the sea floor plucking up nodules and transporting them via long pipes to a ship on the surface.
    Laura Paddison, CNN Money, 8 May 2025
Verb
  • The two hustled off to the airport Friday morning to meet with donors in Southern California.
    Joe Davidson, Sacbee.com, 11 May 2025
  • Ellie hustles Dina into the nearest building, but her efforts to secure the formerly posh music venue is interrupted by a shaky Dina holding a gun on her.
    Sara Netzley, EW.com, 5 May 2025
Verb
  • Listen to this article A Connecticut man faces wire fraud charges for allegedly defrauding Amazon out of more than $3 million.
    Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 10 May 2025
  • By Bay City News A Fairfield travel agent has been sentenced to nine years behind bars for defrauding members of the South Asian community in Northern California, state prosecutors said Friday.
    Bay City News Service, Mercury News, 10 May 2025
Verb
  • That hasn’t stopped Liverpool using him to distract and deceive opponents when free kicks are won, however.
    Gregg Evans, New York Times, 8 May 2025
  • She was also found guilty of deceiving other officials about the man's identity.
    Martha McHardy, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 May 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Swindle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/swindle. Accessed 22 May. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on swindle

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!