defrauded; defrauding; defrauds
: to deprive of something by deception or fraud
trying to defraud the public
Investors in the scheme were defrauded of their life savings.
Examples of defraud in a Sentence
They were accused of trying to defraud the public.
They conspired to defraud the government.
She was convicted of writing bad checks with intent to defraud.
Recent Examples on the Web
The leaders of the A3 network of mostly online charter schools were charged in 2019 with a scheme that prosecutors said relied on faking student enrollment and attendance to defraud the state of hundreds of millions of dollars.
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Jemma Stephenson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 Jan. 2026
In 2024 and 2025, prosecutors in Hillsborough and Manatee counties dropped felony charges against a roofing contractor accused of defrauding homeowners after Hurricane Ian.
—Lawrence Mower, Miami Herald, 30 Jan. 2026
The former Loretto Hospital executive accused of defrauding the federal government out of $290 million has been arrested in Serbia.
—Adam Harrington, CBS News, 29 Jan. 2026
He was sentenced to eight years behind bars for that and a scheme to defraud the city of Antioch by cheating on college tests to receive an educational incentive pay raise.
—Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 27 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for defraud
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Jemma Stephenson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 Jan. 2026
In 2024 and 2025, prosecutors in Hillsborough and Manatee counties dropped felony charges against a roofing contractor accused of defrauding homeowners after Hurricane Ian.
—Lawrence Mower, Miami Herald, 30 Jan. 2026
The former Loretto Hospital executive accused of defrauding the federal government out of $290 million has been arrested in Serbia.
—Adam Harrington, CBS News, 29 Jan. 2026
He was sentenced to eight years behind bars for that and a scheme to defraud the city of Antioch by cheating on college tests to receive an educational incentive pay raise.
—Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 27 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for defraud
Cite this Entry
“Defraud.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/defraud. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.
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