Synonym Chooser

How does the verb cozen contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of cozen are cheat, defraud, and swindle. While all these words mean "to get something by dishonesty or deception," cozen implies artful persuading or flattering to attain a thing or a purpose.

always able to cozen her grandfather out of a few dollars

Where would cheat be a reasonable alternative to cozen?

The words cheat and cozen can be used in similar contexts, but cheat suggests using trickery that escapes observation.

cheated me out of a dollar

When would defraud be a good substitute for cozen?

In some situations, the words defraud and cozen are roughly equivalent. 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

When can swindle be used instead of cozen?

While in some cases nearly identical to cozen, swindle implies large-scale cheating by misrepresentation or abuse of confidence.

swindled of their savings by con artists

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 cozen The point, however, is not to entertain the driver/employee but to cozen the owner. Dan Neil, WSJ, 19 Dec. 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cozen
Verb
  • As Venus clashes with Pluto, looks can be deceiving.
    USA TODAY, USA Today, 2 Aug. 2025
  • Their favorite strategies for deceiving or undermining cyber-defense systems and applications include self-modifying malware and automated phishing efforts.
    Chuck Brooks, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • Two cars owned by Penske, were forced to start from the back of this year’s Indy 500 because of a cheating scandal.
    Bill Koenig, Forbes.com, 31 July 2025
  • The cheating rumors were intensified online, but what is the truth?
    Lea Veloso, StyleCaster, 29 July 2025
Verb
  • His impersonation is so convincing that Lu and Shin are initially fooled.
    Allison DeGrushe Published, EW.com, 14 July 2025
  • The Mets couldn’t pick up his slider and were fooled on his changeup.
    Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 13 July 2025
Verb
  • The app uses a smartphone microphone to pick up the frequency of the belt as it's plucked like a guitar string.
    Eric Bangeman, ArsTechnica, 25 July 2025
  • Versant will be led by CEO Mark Lazarus, chief financial officer and chief operating officer Anand Kini, and chairman David Novak; other senior executives will be plucked from the ranks of NBCUniversal. Cable channel E!
    Tony Maglio, HollywoodReporter, 24 July 2025
Verb
  • In the ensuing hours, Hernandez asked several times to go home, said the officers were trying to trick him, sobbed, clutched at his stomach, lay on the floor in a fetal position, had a fentanyl patch placed on his chest to treat his chronic pain, and mentioned his mental illness diagnoses.
    Joaquin Sapien, ProPublica, 28 July 2025
  • In the series, Haddix revealed to the audience that Tonka was alive and celebrated her tricking the court.
    Minyvonne Burke, NBC news, 24 July 2025
Verb
  • The bees became aggressive and stung the man multiple times.
    Laura Daniella Sepulveda, AZCentral.com, 9 July 2025
  • Those walking through Aurillac, a quaint French community, were stung over a 30-minute period, with three people in critical condition evacuated to a hospital.
    Ashley J. DiMella, FOXNews.com, 8 July 2025
Verb
  • Then, squeeze your Magic Eraser a few times to activate the foaming bubbles.
    Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 20 July 2025
  • The Euro 2025 quarter-finals had late drama, with Italy squeezing past Norway, a comeback out of nowhere from England, and a farcical penalty shootout win over Sweden.
    Michael Cox, New York Times, 20 July 2025
Verb
  • After studying music at Stanford, Scher hustled the biggest gig of all: working for the greatest booker in town himself, Bill Graham.
    David Kushner, Rolling Stone, 20 July 2025
  • The game came easy for her and, then just rebounding-wise, Jess just hustled.
    Mike Cook, Twin Cities, 16 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Cozen.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cozen. Accessed 6 Aug. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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