Synonyms of swindles

swindles 1 of 2

noun

plural of swindle

as in scams

an instance of the use of dishonest methods to acquire something of value

identity theft has become one of the most frequent and feared swindles of our time

Synonyms & Similar Words

• scams
• frauds
• hustles
• cons
• schemes
• hoaxes
• fiddles
• stings
• devices
• shell games
• tricks
• buncos
• flimflams
• rackets
• counterfeits
• crosses
• stratagems
• fixes
• Ponzi schemes
• rip-offs
• wiles
• pyramid schemes
• forgeries
• dodges
• sleights
• ploys
• fakes
• jigs
• shams
• phonies
• gimmicks
• humbug
• three-card montes
• thimblerigs

swindles

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of swindle

as in cheats

to rob by the use of trickery or threats

hundreds of people were swindled out of their savings, and all they had to show for it were fake land deeds

Synonyms & Similar Words

• cheats
• hustles
• plucks
• squeezes
• stings
• defrauds
• beats
• bilks
• deceives
• tricks
• sticks
• victimizes
• suckers
• screws
• mulcts
• exploits
• fiddles
• does
• cons
• shortchanges
• bleeds
• gaffs
• fleeces
• diddles
• cozens
• shorts
• stiffs
• rips off
• shakes down
• reams
• fools
• skins
• rooks
• extorts
• chisels
• skunks
• betrays
• hoses
• flimflams
• chouses
• nobbles
• euchres
• does in
• thimblerigs
• takes to the cleaners
• wrenches
• overcharges
• sells a bill of goods to
• takes for a ride
• clips
• dupes
• milks
• wrings
• gouges
• wrests
• nicks
• soaks
• bamboozles
• gulls
• double-crosses
• bitches
• ropes (in)
• fast-talks

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of swindles

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

Frauds, swindles, cons, scams, and deceptions — collectively known as hoaxes. — Scott Neuman, NPR, 1 Oct. 2025

These swindles are not only highly organized but also systematized. — Cezary Podkul, ProPublica, 19 Sep. 2022

Verb

This period comedy set in England in the 1930s stars Ben Radcliffe as a thief who swindles his way into a hall boy position at posh Fackham Hall, only to hook up with the daughter of the house and finagle his way into a position of privilege. — K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 6 Mar. 2026

He gets chased by cops, swindles the wrong ping-pong goobers and becomes embroiled in a canine extortion scheme. — Brian Truitt, USA Today, 23 Dec. 2025