as in fraudulent
marked by, based on, or done by the use of dishonest methods to acquire something of value
every new technology has brought with it a raft of defrauding schemes that make full use of it
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in swindling
Related Words
as in cheating
to rob by the use of trickery or threats
senior citizens generally were too smart to fall for the fast-talking salesman's attempts to defraud them
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of defrauding
Jay Weaver, Miami Herald, 15 Dec. 2025
And what could be more legitimate of a cause for removing a governor of the nation's central bank—which is, among other things, the lender of last resort to the country's financial institutions—than the alleged defrauding of those very financial institutions?
—Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Aug. 2025
Joshua Sidorowicz, CBS News, 11 Feb. 2026
And besides handing over fake ashes to grieving families, the Hallfords also admitted to defrauding the federal government out of nearly $900,000 in pandemic-era aid for small businesses.
—Jesse Bedayn, Denver Post, 5 Feb. 2026
In 2022, a New York attorney, doctor, and lawsuit financier were convicted of recruiting hundreds of plaintiffs and defrauding insurers and businesses of more than $31 million.
—Elizabeth Heck, New York Daily News, 4 Feb. 2026
Both men are facing up to 20 years in prison on the charges first-degree health insurance fraud, conspiracy to commit first-degree health insurance fraud, first-degree larceny by defrauding a public community, conspiracy to commit first-degree larceny by defrauding a public community.
—Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 3 Feb. 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 bill proposes to add revenue to the VOCA fund by pulling from monetary penalties against people or companies convicted of defrauding the government through the False Claims Act.
—Tamia Fowlkes, jsonline.com, 21 Jan. 2026
Snyder asked for a new trial on his conviction for defrauding the IRS in federal court filings in October, while federal prosecutors responded that his request was untimely and without merit.
—Post-Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 20 Jan. 2026
After her 2021 commutation, Camberos and her brother were convicted of defrauding manufacturers to resell food at markup, generating millions to fund a lavish lifestyle.
—Los Angeles Times, 17 Jan. 2026
Noun
Her defrauding of the Foundation, however, surpassed that figure as FBI agents dug deeper into her theft.
—Jay Weaver, Miami Herald, 15 Dec. 2025
And what could be more legitimate of a cause for removing a governor of the nation's central bank—which is, among other things, the lender of last resort to the country's financial institutions—than the alleged defrauding of those very financial institutions?
—Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Aug. 2025
Verb
Scammers have made a career out of defrauding people, Rickard said.
—Joshua Sidorowicz, CBS News, 11 Feb. 2026
And besides handing over fake ashes to grieving families, the Hallfords also admitted to defrauding the federal government out of nearly $900,000 in pandemic-era aid for small businesses.
—Jesse Bedayn, Denver Post, 5 Feb. 2026
In 2022, a New York attorney, doctor, and lawsuit financier were convicted of recruiting hundreds of plaintiffs and defrauding insurers and businesses of more than $31 million.
—Elizabeth Heck, New York Daily News, 4 Feb. 2026
Both men are facing up to 20 years in prison on the charges first-degree health insurance fraud, conspiracy to commit first-degree health insurance fraud, first-degree larceny by defrauding a public community, conspiracy to commit first-degree larceny by defrauding a public community.
—Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 3 Feb. 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 bill proposes to add revenue to the VOCA fund by pulling from monetary penalties against people or companies convicted of defrauding the government through the False Claims Act.
—Tamia Fowlkes, jsonline.com, 21 Jan. 2026
Snyder asked for a new trial on his conviction for defrauding the IRS in federal court filings in October, while federal prosecutors responded that his request was untimely and without merit.
—Post-Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 20 Jan. 2026
After her 2021 commutation, Camberos and her brother were convicted of defrauding manufacturers to resell food at markup, generating millions to fund a lavish lifestyle.
—Los Angeles Times, 17 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for defrauding
Adjective
-
Some defendants are also accused of conspiring to bribe a civilian contractor to create fraudulent military IDs for base access.—
Steve Patterson,
Florida Times-Union,
5 Feb. 2026
-
Rivers used her professional connection with Event Décor Direct in Deerfield Beach to take money from the event decoration business over a three-month period in 2025, in part by making dozens of fraudulent transactions and credit card purchases, the Sheriff’s Office said in a news release Thursday.—
Angie DiMichele,
Sun Sentinel,
5 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Her lawyers, Giuseppe Iannaccone and Marcello Bana, have denied there was a case of grand larceny, which would include fraud and swindling.—
Luisa Zargani,
Footwear News,
14 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
He has not been formally charged with cheating by World Curling, which does not use video to review game play.—
STEVE DOUGLAS,
Arkansas Online,
15 Feb. 2026
-
Canada's curling team has fired back at Sweden after the Swedes accused the Canadians of cheating at the Winter Olympics.—
Jackson Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
15 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
That doesn't mean the dealer is dishonest, though.—
Angelica Leicht,
CBS News,
10 Feb. 2026
-
Multiple points of validation will help combat dishonest applicants, Rowe told lawmakers at the time.—
Alex Derosier,
Twin Cities,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The solar sector has been grappling with a prolonged price slump and oversupply, squeezing margins even as leading producers continue to add capacity.—
Anniek Bao,
CNBC,
4 Feb. 2026
-
For generations, Americans who wanted orange juice without the work of squeezing fresh fruit cracked open a can and watched a cylinder of frozen juice go ker-plunk into a pitcher.—
Dee-Ann Durbin,
Chicago Tribune,
4 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Authorities did not provide additional details about the agents' apparently false statements.—
Nicole Acevedo,
NBC news,
13 Feb. 2026
-
Nevertheless, Worden continued to promote the false claim to news outlets and hired a media consultant to amplify it, the documents said.—
Marc Ramirez,
USA Today,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
If out of work, hustling this week and next could open doors.—
Kyle Thomas,
PEOPLE,
11 Jan. 2026
-
Students were hustling around campus, coming and going on the penultimate Saturday of the semester.—
Alaa Elassar,
CNN Money,
15 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
According to its website, Butcher & Singer is an homage to the glitz and class of 1940s Hollywood, reaching into the past, plucking the best and brightest aspects of a bygone era.—
Courtney Cherry,
CBS News,
6 Feb. 2026
-
The Bills scooped up a second Broncos assistant in as many days, plucking Jim Leonhard to lead Joe Brady’s defense.—
Torrey Hart,
New York Times,
1 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Defrauding.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defrauding. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
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