Synonyms of con

con 1 of 4

noun (1)

ˈkän 

as in prisoner

a person convicted as a criminal and serving a prison sentence

a program to help ex-cons find employment

Synonyms & Similar Words

• prisoner
• convict
• inmate
• jailbird
• trusty
• captive
• capture
• parolee
• lifer
• internee
• probationer

con

2 of 4

noun (2)

as in scam

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

the explanation was so plausible that I never suspected it was all a con to make off with my car

Synonyms & Similar Words

• scam
• fraud
• swindle
• bunko
• bunco
• scheme
• hoax
• flimflam
• shell game
• sting
• trick
• fiddle
• device
• hustle
• cross
• counterfeit
• racket
• Ponzi scheme
• pyramid scheme
• fix
• ploy
• stratagem
• jig
• sham
• dodge
• phoney
• fake
• wile
• gimmick
• rip-off
• forgery
• sleight
• phony
• gouging
• thimblerig
• overcharging
• soaking
• three-card monte
• humbug

con

3 of 4

verb (1)

1

as in to study

to commit to memory

usually candidates con their entire campaign speech, right down to the jokes they supposedly ad-lib

Synonyms & Similar Words

• study
• learn
• memorize
• know
• remember
• understand
• grasp
• recall
• think (of)
• retain
• get
• accept
• recollect
• apprehend
• hark back (to)
• comprehend
• reminisce (about)
• digest
• mind
• absorb
• relive

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• forget
• unlearn
• slight
• ignore
• disregard
• pass over
• overlook
• neglect
• disremember
• misremember
• slur (over)
• overpass

2

as in to scan

to look over closely (as for judging quality or condition)

seemed to be conning his face for any sign of uncertainty

Synonyms & Similar Words

• scan
• review
• survey
• examine
• inspect
• view
• go over
• audit
• watch
• check (out)
• scrutinize
• analyze
• oversee
• overlook
• study
• investigate
• notice
• explore
• dissect
• peruse
• pore (over)
• parse
• classify
• research
• comb
• probe
• observe
• plumb
• categorize
• pick over
• delve (into)
• reinspect
• resurvey
• rereview

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• skim
• miss
• glance (at or over)

con

4 of 4

verb (2)

1

as in to cheat

to rob by the use of trickery or threats

a fly-by-night operator who had conned hundreds of would-be homeowners out of their hard-earned money

Synonyms & Similar Words

• cheat
• squeeze
• hustle
• sting
• pluck
• stick
• swindle
• screw
• beat
• trick
• deceive
• do
• flimflam
• shake down
• defraud
• bilk
• sucker
• fleece
• chouse
• bleed
• mulct
• stiff
• skin
• short
• victimize
• euchre
• fiddle
• gaff
• cozen
• ream
• hose
• exploit
• nobble
• rip off
• chisel
• shortchange
• diddle
• rook
• fool
• take for a ride
• skunk
• thimblerig
• do in
• betray
• take to the cleaners
• wrench
• sell a bill of goods to
• extort
• clip
• dupe
• nick
• overcharge
• rope (in)
• milk
• gouge
• gull
• wrest
• wring
• bitch
• soak
• double-cross
• bamboozle
• fast-talk

2

as in to trick

to cause to believe what is untrue

tried to con me into thinking that he had actually won the lottery

Synonyms & Similar Words

• trick
• fool
• deceive
• dupe
• kid
• delude
• hoax
• mislead
• tease
• sucker
• bluff
• juggle
• humbug
• hoodwink
• cheat
• gull
• bamboozle
• spoof
• gaff
• string along
• suck in
• misinform
• cozen
• buffalo
• sting
• hornswoggle
• misguide
• snow
• take in
• have on
• fake out
• beguile
• gammon
• snooker
• catch
• do a number on
• have
• burn
• lead one down the garden path
• lead one up the garden path
• pull one's leg
• swindle
• pull the wool over one's eyes
• put on
• stick
• defraud
• fleece
• mulct
• euchre
• flimflam
• skin
• hustle
• shortchange
• chisel
• rook
• diddle
• bleed
• squeeze

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• undeceive
• expose
• reveal
• unmask
• show up
• debunk
• tell
• uncover
• disclose
• divulge
• unveil
• uncloak
• disillusion
• disabuse
• disenchant

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of con

Noun

Later in the evening, Hield picked Curry’s brain about the pros and cons of leaning into a small lineup or going more traditional, all to counter Adams, the New Zealand mountain in their way. —Marcus Thompson Ii, New York Times, 3 May 2025

This guide explores the pros and cons of staking and caging, and provides must-know tips for using your tomato supports properly. —Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 May 2025

Verb

The wayward 21-year-old would be fired from his job for stealing cash, launching a life of conning others for financial gain. —Sean Neumann, People.com, 9 Mar. 2025

Trust is risky, and there is ample evidence from social science that the risk of being conned sparks a special risk aversion. —Tess Wilkinson-Ryan, TIME, 18 Mar. 2025

Phrases Containing con

• mod con